Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has enacted an amendment to the crime prevention law prohibiting face coverings in public spaces, aiming to improve facial recognition capabilities. Exceptions include clothing essential for work, medical professions, extreme weather conditions, and participation in sports or cultural events. Although the amendment does not specifically ban religious headwear, it effectively disallows the wearing of burqas and niqabs in public, allowing hijabs. The move has sparked divided opinions on social media, with advocates deeming it timely and critics seeing it as government overreach.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed an amendment to the crime prevention law banning face coverings in public places. Exceptions are made for work-related items, medical professionals, and weather conditions.
The new law does not explicitly ban religious headwear, but it effectively prohibits the burqa and niqab in public while allowing hijabs.
The increase in religious attire in Kazakhstan over the past five years has led to a rise in hijab-wearing, while niqab and burqa remain less common.
Opinions on the ban are divided on social media, with some considering it a timely law while others view it as government control.
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