Kazakhstan targets niqab in new legislation
Legislation targets niqabs and burqas in Muslim-majority Kazakhstan, raising concerns about religious freedom
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan’s parliament is moving forward with legislation that would prohibit the wearing of niqabs, burqas, and other face-covering garments in public spaces.
On June 10, the Senate—the upper chamber of parliament—reviewed amendments to existing laws under the banner of preventing legal violations. The proposed changes would criminalize face coverings worn in public, unless justified by medical necessity, civil protection needs, specific weather conditions, or participation in cultural or sporting events.
According to Kursiv Media, the legislation does not mention religious dress explicitly but would apply to garments commonly worn by Muslim women, including the niqab and burqa.
These veils, which cover the face entirely or partially, are part of Islamic identity for many, but are increasingly targeted by secular states in the region.
While the government frames the move as part of a broader public order and legal clarity initiative, critics argue that such laws disproportionately target Muslims and encroach on constitutionally guaranteed religious freedoms.
Kazakhstan is a Muslim-majority society, yet its state ideology is rooted in secularism—a framework that has increasingly clashed with public expressions of Islamic faith.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has previously emphasized the promotion of “traditional Kazakh values” and clothing that reflects national identity, signaling clear opposition to visibly Islamic attire.
His administration has also echoed rhetoric used across the region that equates face veils with extremism or foreign influence—despite their deep roots in Islamic tradition.
Kazakhstan’s move follows similar developments in neighboring countries. In 2023, Uzbekistan banned burqas in public, citing concerns over public order. Kyrgyzstan soon followed with parliamentary proposals, and by January 2025, enacted its own law banning face coverings. The Kyrgyz government has since carried out enforcement raids to ensure compliance.
These measures reflect a wider regional pattern: post-Soviet Central Asian states increasingly use secularism not just as a governance model, but as a political tool to restrict Islamic visibility in the public sphere.
Rights activists warn that such policies risk alienating religious communities and criminalizing personal expressions of faith.
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