In a major transfer, Kazakhstan, a Muslim-majority nation the place over 70% of the inhabitants follows Islam, has formally banned the sporting of the hijab, niqab, and burqa. The choice has drawn consideration globally, significantly within the context of rising non secular conservatism in a number of elements of the Muslim world.
The Kazakh authorities said that such clothes obstructs facial recognition know-how, which is more and more utilized in public areas like airports, ports, and crowded areas to determine suspects. Moreover, the usage of AI-driven facial recognition methods is vital for nationwide safety, and clothes that conceal the face pose a problem to those methods. In in the present day’s DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee Information, analysed the ban on hijab and burqa in Kazakhstan:
Watch Full DNA Episode Right here:
#DNAWithRahulSinha | मुस्लिम बहुल देश में क्यों लगा बुर्के पर बैन… क्या हिजाब, बुर्का सुरक्षा के लिए खतरा है ?
‘मुस्लिम देश’ में हिजाब बैन का विश्लेषण#DNA #HijabBan #Kazakhstan @RahulSinhaTV pic.twitter.com/KZ12sjIChD
— Zee Information (@ZeeNews) July 1, 2025
The federal government has additional emphasised selling Kazakhstan’s cultural apparel over clothes just like the burqa and niqab, positioning the transfer as a part of a broader effort to bolster nationwide identification.
Although formally framed as a safety measure, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s authorities is trying to curb the unfold of radical ideologies throughout the nation.
The transfer comes in opposition to the backdrop of a surge in extremist affect throughout Central Asia round 2015, when a number of youth from the area reportedly joined the Islamic State, elevating issues about threats to democracy and liberal values.
Kazakhstan has joined a rising record of Central Asian nations taking a agency stance on non secular apparel related to extremism. In 2017, Tajikistan formally banned clothes that obscure the face. In 2023, Uzbekistan imposed comparable restrictions in public areas. Most lately, in December, Kyrgyzstan barred Islamic gown influenced by Arabic tradition.
The development just isn’t restricted to Central Asia. Muslim-majority nations reminiscent of Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco have additionally carried out restrictions on hijab, burqa, or niqab in varied types, citing causes starting from nationwide safety to preserving secular governance.
Whereas every authorities presents a unique rationale, the underlying intent stays comparable: to control non secular symbols perceived as potential threats to public security or drivers of extremism.
The choice has additionally prompted reflection in nations like India, a secular nation, the place any debate on banning hijab or burqa typically triggers intense public and political reactions.