Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country, bans the face veil

A law banning face-covering scarfs

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

On June 30, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a new law banning the wearing of face-covering veils in public spaces. This decision may come as a surprise, given that Kazakhstan is a predominantly Muslim country, where some women traditionally wear the niqab or other face-covering veils.

What does the law say?

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

According to Reuters, the law now prohibits clothing that “impedes facial recognition” in public spaces. Exceptions are, however, made in cases of adverse weather, for medical reasons, or during sporting and cultural events.

Broader legislative reform

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

However, the new law makes no explicit mention of Islam or religious dress, and is part of a broader series of legal changes.

Islam is the majority religion

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

According to the Pew Research Center, 71% of the Kazakh population is Muslim. This proportion has only increased between 2010 and 2020.

A secular state

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

Yet this former Soviet republic remains a secular state. Religious practice is moderate, the wearing of headscarves is not widespread, and daily attendance at mosques remains rare, Le Parisien points out.

Strengthening Kazakh identity

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

By banning face-covering clothing, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is, in reality, seeking to push aside Islamic dress in favor of traditional Kazakh clothing, rich in color and ornamentation, to strengthen the national ethnic identity.

Wear your country

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

“Rather than wearing black robes that conceal the face, it is better to wear clothes in the national style,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was quoted as saying earlier this year, according to Kazakh media. “Our traditional clothes vividly highlight our ethnic identity, which is why we must promote them widely.”

A trend observed in Central Asia

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

This desire to eliminate Islamic clothing, such as the niqab and the burqa, in public spaces has been observed in recent years in several Central Asian countries.

A wave of bans

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

Since February 1, 2025, wearing the niqab has been banned on the streets of Kyrgyzstan, subject to a fine. A similar measure was implemented in Uzbekistan as of 2023, where wearing a full-face veil in public can result in a $250 fine.

Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

A law banning face-covering scarfs, What does the law say?, Broader legislative reform, Islam is the majority religion, A secular state, Strengthening Kazakh identity, Wear your country, A trend observed in Central Asia, A wave of bans, Tajik President bans clothing 'foreign to national culture'

In Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon (pictured) signed a law in 2024 banning the wearing of clothing “foreign to the national culture” in public places.

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