Niqab outlawed: Kazakhstan becomes latest nation to ban face-covering garments

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a law banning the wearing of clothing in public that obscures a person’s face, except in limited cases defined by law. The legislation does not explicitly mention religious attire but would arguably apply to garments commonly worn by some Muslim women, such as the niqab and burqa.

Under the new regulation, face-covering garments are only allowed in specific cases: when required by law, for official duties, medical reasons, protection from severe weather, for civil defense purposes or for participation in sports and cultural events.

«Wearing items of clothing in public places that impede facial recognition is prohibited, except in cases where this is necessary to comply with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, fulfill official duties or for medical, civil defense, weather-related or event-specific purposes,» states the amended law on the prevention of offenses, signed by the president.

Earlier reporting by Kursiv.media noted that Tokayev has voiced support for traditional attire that reflects Kazakhstan’s national identity, in contrast to garments that conceal the face.

The move follows similar actions in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which passed a law in January 2025 banning the niqab, a face veil worn by some Muslim women, in public places. Kyrgyz lawmakers argued that such religious clothing makes it difficult to identify individuals in government buildings and other public spaces. In the months that followed, authorities conducted raids in several cities to enforce the law.

Uzbekistan banned the wearing of burqas, veils that cover the entire face and body, in public in 2023, with the Ministry of Justice citing the need to maintain public order as the reason for the decision.