Russia wants to ban the wearing of the niqab

Deputies of the State Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Mikhail Matveev and Sergey Obukhov have prepared a draft law that proposes a ban on wearing the niqab and the burqa in public places.

According to Russian media, fines of up to 30,000 rubles are proposed for wearing face-covering clothing in public places. According to CPRF representatives, the document has already been submitted for government review.

The text of the draft law does not mention the niqab, but judging by the comments from party representatives, this type of clothing is indeed implied.

Earlier in mid-April, CPRF deputy Mikhail Matveev announced the preparation of a draft law to ban the wearing of religious clothing that covers the face. Matveev noted that one of the goals of the document is to prevent radical Islamism.

Also earlier, on May 21, Valery Fadeev, head of the Human Rights Council under the President, raised the issue of banning face-covering clothing, including religious attire, calling for a ban on niqabs. According to him, similar bans have already been introduced in several Central Asian countries.

At that time, the deputy chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims, Mufti of Moscow Ildar Alyautdinov stated that this initiative could provoke outrage among Russian Muslims and emphasized that no connection has been established between wearing the niqab and the increase in extremist threats.

Later, Matveev stated that the draft law would not mention niqabs or burqas at all, focusing solely on issues of security and identity verification.

Earlier on May 8, the Parliament of Tajikistan adopted amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals” and banned the wearing of the hijab. The new amendments to the law prohibit “the importation, sale, and promotion of clothing alien to the national culture, as well as wearing such clothing in public places.”

It was also reported earlier that the authorities of Uzbekistan plan to introduce administrative responsibility for wearing “clothing that does not allow for the identification of citizens” in public places.