Chinese government authorities in the northwestern Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang have banned parents from giving their children dozens of 'extreme' Islamic names, as part of an ongoing crackdown on alleged 'extremism' in the area.

An official list of banned names had previously been circulated in Hotan, south Xinjiang, as early as 2015, sources told Radio Free Asia.

Published by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as 'Naming Rules For Ethnic Minorities', the document's rules now appear to be enforced throughout the region, which is home to the biggest Muslim population in China.