In China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, authorities are introducing a law designed to stamp out ethnic unrest.

The law on education for ethnic unity in Xinjiang will go into effect in February. It is set to prohibit organizations and individuals from airing views deemed to disrupt “national unity.”

But state media reports have failed to spell out just exactly what type of information could breach national unity.

The law follows violent ethnic riots that rocked the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi, in July last year.

Late last month overseas Uyghur groups criticized a draft of the law.

Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, told Radio Free Asia, “Beijing's policies treat Uyghurs like second-class citizens.”

Seton Hall University professor Yang Liyu also told Radio Free Asia the policy cannot solve the real problem because, “The Communist Party secretary still dictates everything.”