HARDLINE Chinese authorities have reportedly ordered Muslims to hand over all religious items including prayer mats and copies of the Koran.

Officials in Xinjiang, in the north west of the country, have warned mosques that worshippers must give up the items or face harsh punishment.

3 Chinese muslims attend a morning prayer session in Xining city Credit: Rex Features

3 Copies of the Koran must be handed over as part of the crackdown Credit: Getty - Contributor

The clampdown is part of the "Three Illegals and One Item" campaign which targets "illegal" religious items owned by mostly Muslim Uyghurs.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports the operation bans "illegal" publicity, religious activities, religious teaching, and items believed to be tools of terrorism including flammable objects and knives.

“Officials at village, township and county level are confiscating all Korans and the special mats used for namaaz [prayer],” a source near the border with Kazakhstan told RFA.