Islamabad, July 2, 2025: Kazakhstan has officially banned face-covering garments in public, marking a significant policy shift aimed at reinforcing national values and cultural identity. The legislation, recently signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, restricts the use of attire that conceals the face in public spaces.
This new law prohibits garments that hinder facial recognition, though exceptions are made for medical conditions, severe weather, and specific cultural or sporting events. While the law doesn’t explicitly mention religious dress, such as the burqa or niqab, it is widely viewed as part of a broader regional push to regulate Islamic attire.
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President Tokayev emphasized the importance of promoting traditional Kazakh clothing, stating, “Instead of concealing the face with black robes, it is far more appropriate to promote traditional national attire. Our traditional clothing highlights our ethnic character and should be embraced more widely.”
The move aligns Kazakhstan with other Central Asian countries taking similar actions. In Kyrgyzstan, street patrols enforce a ban on the niqab, while Uzbekistan imposes fines of over $250 for violating dress codes. Tajikistan has also passed legislation discouraging clothing deemed incompatible with national culture.
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Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority country and former Soviet republic, now joins these nations in redefining public dress codes to reflect local customs over imported religious norms.
