Nursery schools in the northwestern province of Gansu, China have banned religion after a video of a girl reciting the Quran surfaced online.

Around 1.6 billion Muslims reside in the Chinese province of Gansu, and this is the third largest Muslim population in the country after Xinjiang and Ningxia. In the video titled “Cute girl reciting scriptures in Gansu,” a little girl wearing a black burqa is shown reading verses from the Quran while her classmates are listening. The other students seen in the video are also wearing Muslim attires, The Free Press Journal details.

Many of the netizens who commented on the video reportedly expressed anger over what they saw. Authorities also reacted negatively on the viral clip.

In a statement, the education authority in the Muslim-rich Chinese province condemned the content of the video, saying it is harmful to the youth’s mental health. The local government also gave emphasis on the Communist Party’s rules against religious teachings in public schools, The Independent reports.

“This video has drawn a gasp from the public, as many people are infuriated,” the education authority said. “The Education Department of Gansu province strongly condemns the act that harms the mental health of the youth, and demands education agencies of all levels to stop it resolutely and strictly bans religion from campuses,” the statement continued. Christian Daily