Kazakhstan Moves To Ban Niqab, Face Coverings In Public Places Amid Rising Radicalisation

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Last Updated:June 30, 2025, 19:45 IST

The Parliament of Kazakhstan has passed a bill seeking a ban on face-covering clothes in public, citing security concerns.

Parliament passes bill to ban face coverings (AP Image)

Amid rising radicalisation, Kazakhstan’s Parliament has passed a bill banning niqabs and all face-covering clothing in public spaces. The legislation was sent to the president for final approval, according to the local media reports.

The officials cited security concerns, noting that the niqab isn’t mandatory in Islam, Russia Today reported.

According to the local authorities, face-covering veils make it hard for law enforcement to identify individuals, which threatens public safety.

The bill bans wearing of all face-covering clothes out in the open, however, makes exceptions for work, medical needs, weather, cultural events, and civil defence.

According to the media reports, the government’s move aligns with Kazakhstan’s secular principles and aims to reinforce national identity, while distancing the country from religious practices deemed “foreign".

In March 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the niqab is an old-fashioned type of clothing that was forced on Kazakh women by newly radicalised people. He said that it went against the country’s traditional values.

Niqabs and black, floor-length dresses have become more visible on Kazakhstan’s streets in recent years, which reflected religious shifts despite the country being identified as largely secular, The Times of Central Asia reported.

The government had earlier banned hijabs in schools in 2017, and in 2023, hijabs were banned for students and teachers in all schools.

In 2023, over 150 schoolgirls had refused to attend classes in protest against the hijab ban.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the issue and affirmed Kazakhstan’s secular identity.

“This principle must be strictly observed in all spheres, including education. School is, first and foremost, an educational institution where children come to gain knowledge. Religious beliefs, on the other hand, are a choice and a private matter for each citizen," The Times of Central Asia quoted Tokayev as saying.

Other countries in the region, such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, have also banned face-covering veils in 2023 and 2025, respectively.

Notably, Kazakhstan is not a Muslim country, unlike Saudi Arabia or Iran in the region; however, Islam is a dominant religion among its people.

The country’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and Kazakhstan officially promotes secularism, meaning the government is separate from religious institutions.

Ashesh Mallick

Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes...Read More

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News world Kazakhstan Moves To Ban Niqab, Face Coverings In Public Places Amid Rising Radicalisation

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