Kazakhstan bans wearing veil in public places

Astana: Kazakhstan has banned wearing the veil in public places.

According to the news agency, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a bill on Monday banning the wearing of clothing that conceals the face in public places.

The bill signed by the Kazakh president states that clothing that interferes with facial recognition will be banned in public.

According to the law, clothing that obstructs identification will be banned, but it exempts clothing used for medical purposes, in inclement weather, and during sports or cultural events.

The law, which came into effect on Monday, did not explicitly mention religion or types of religious dress.

According to Kazakh media, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said earlier this year that it is better to wear national clothes than to wear black clothes that cover the face.

He added that our national clothes highlight our ethnic identity in a significant way, so we should promote their popularity.

It is pertinent to note that before Kazakhstan, some other countries in Central Asia have also banned women from wearing the niqab or hijab.

In February 2025, police in Kyrgyzstan began patrolling the streets to enforce a ban on the niqab, while in Uzbekistan, fines of more than $250 were imposed for violations of the niqab.

In 2024, the Muslim-majority country of Tajikistan also officially banned the hijab, while similar restrictions were imposed in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon also signed a law banning the wearing of clothing in public places that does not reflect national culture.