China has marked the start of Ramadan with its customary ban on civil servants, students and children in a mainly-Muslim region from taking part in fasting, government websites said as the holy month started on Monday.

Officially atheist China has a history of issuing directives against marking the holy month, which began in the country on Monday, and authorities have said earlier that fasting is illegal and against the CPC’s principles.

Government officials, students and teachers were among those directed not to observe the fast.