Kazakhstan’s Niqab Ban Sparks Outcry Over Religious Freedom

Muslim communities warn of rising state control over Islamic expression as government defends face-covering ban as a public safety measure

By Abdullahi Yusuf

A newly signed law banning face-covering garments in public has stirred controversy in Kazakhstan, with Muslim communities raising alarm over what they see as a growing trend of state interference in religious expression.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the measure in June, banning clothing that obscures the face including the niqab, a veil worn by some Muslim women. While the government insists the move is meant to “ensure public safety,” many fear it signals a deeper attempt to marginalize Islamic practices deemed incompatible with the state’s preferred image of “national identity.”

Though officially supported by the state-run Spiritual Administration of Kazakhstan’s Muslims (SAKM), the law has divided public opinion and deepened mistrust. While some cite security concerns, others particularly within Kazakhstan’s Muslim population see the policy as a step toward forced secularism and a denial of religious rights under the pretense of social harmony.

The SAKM, which operates under the oversight of the state, defended the law by referencing selective Islamic texts, claiming face veiling is not obligatory and not customary in Kazakh society. But many scholars and believers reject such narrow interpretations, arguing that religious expression is personal and should not be dictated by the state — particularly when such laws disproportionately affect Muslim women.

Civil rights advocates also note that Kazakhstan is not alone in this trend. Across Central Asia, former Soviet republics continue to grapple with the legacy of state-led secularism, where expressions of Islam are often met with suspicion and bureaucratic regulation.

Tokayev has previously called for a return to “traditional” Kazakh dress, warning against attire that “conceals identity.” But analysts argue such rhetoric creates a binary: one in which Islamic expression is painted as foreign, extreme, or incompatible with Kazakh culture.

With over 70% of the country identifying as Muslim, many worry that policies like this risk further polarizing society — dividing citizens into “good” Muslims who conform to state norms, and “problematic” ones who assert religious autonomy.

The niqab ban may be framed as a law about clothing, but for many Kazakh Muslims, it represents something deeper — a warning sign that faith and identity are being quietly legislated out of public life.

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