Kazakhstan has joined several Central Asian nations in restricting face-covering attire in public spaces. On Monday, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a new law that bans individuals from wearing clothing that “interferes with facial recognition” in public areas.
What the Law States
While the legislation does not directly mention religion or Islamic dress, it effectively bans face coverings with some exceptions—including for medical reasons, severe weather, and during sporting or cultural events.
The move is part of a broader set of amendments signed into law, and aligns with similar restrictions already in place in countries like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Cultural Framing of the Ban
Though the country is majority-Muslim, President Tokayev has framed the law as a celebration of national identity rather than a religious restriction. In earlier remarks, he was quoted as saying:
“Rather than wearing face-concealing black robes, it’s much better to wear clothes in the national style… Our national clothes vividly emphasise our ethnic identity, so we need to popularise them comprehensively.”
Regional Context
Kazakhstan’s decision reflects a growing trend among former Soviet republics in Central Asia to curb Islamic symbols in public life, often under the pretext of security or national unity:
- Kyrgyzstan has actively patrolled streets to enforce a niqab ban.
- Uzbekistan fines violators over $250 for wearing the niqab.
- Tajikistan prohibits clothing deemed “alien to national culture,” a move widely interpreted as targeting Islamic attire.
Implications
Critics argue that such laws can marginalise conservative Muslim communities, while proponents view them as necessary to preserve cultural traditions and ensure public safety. With this new legislation, Kazakhstan walks a delicate line between modernisation, national identity, and religious freedom.
