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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Shweta Sharma

Kazakhstan has banned the burqa. Here’s why

  • Kazakhstan has enacted a new law prohibiting the wearing of clothing in public that obscures the face and impedes facial recognition.
  • President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the legislation, which permits face coverings only for medical reasons, adverse weather, official duties, or specific events.
  • The president said the ban aims to promote Kazakhstan's ethnic identity, encouraging national attire over face-concealing garments.
  • This restriction follows similar bans on the face veil in other Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, often citing security or secularism.
  • The new law comes after a 2023 government decision to ban headscarves in educational institutions, which resulted in protests and approximately 150 girls dropping out of school.

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