Questioning the Deputies: What's Under the Veils of These Girls?

Duma deputies asked Prime Minister Mishustin to learn from Muslim partner countries and ban clothing that covers the face

Author: Svetlana Gomzykova

Commentator:

Bogdan Bezpartko

Russian Duma deputies Sergey Obukhov and Mikhail Matveyev submitted a question to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, requesting a ban on wearing clothing that covers the face, including the niqab (a typically black female head covering that completely covers the face except for the eyes).

In the view of the deputies, the absence of such a ban would create a legal vacuum in Russia, which extremists could exploit.

In their request, they mentioned that as of July 12, 2025, some Central Asian countries - particularly the Republic of Kazakhstan - have implemented amendments to the law prohibiting the wearing of full-face covering clothing in public places, including the niqab, masks, and similar attire.

Previously, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan had also introduced similar restrictions.

Sergey Obukhov, Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on Civil Society, Public and Religious Organizations, pointed out that these measures aim at ensuring public safety, achieving effective identification of individuals, and combating the spread of radical Islamic ideologies disguised as religious symbols.

However, this is not about completely banning Muslim women's religious attire. For example, in Kazakhstan, the amendment to the law does not cover headscarves, shawls, abayas, and other elements of female attire that do not cover the face.

The restrictions apply only to clothing that hinders the identification of an individual in public spaces.

The proponents argue that given the large number of labor migrants from Central Asian countries entering Russia, "it is extremely necessary to establish a unified legal space to prevent the influx of radical Islamic ideologues who are actively suppressed in their home countries into Russia."

Based on this, they requested Mishustin to direct the relevant executive authorities to analyze the legislative practices of Central Asian countries.

"And 'study the possibility of introducing similar provisions into Russian law, banning the use of clothing that hinders the identification of individuals in public spaces - except for medical or official needs.'"

It is worth noting that Obukhov and Matveyev had already drafted a bill on the prohibition of wearing face-covering clothing a year ago, and submitted it to the cabinet for comments according to procedure. However, the government considered that restricting the wearing of religious attire violated citizens' freedom of religion.

Considering that what is being referred to here are only those garments that make it impossible to identify an individual, this fact becomes particularly significant. In this era of high terrorism threats, from a security perspective, this is precisely what is crucial.

Moreover, the concerns of those who support the ban on the niqab are not unfounded.

For example: In 2015, a suicide bomber named Diana Ramazova, wearing a niqab, detonated herself near the police station in Istanbul's city center, killing three police officers. In April 2019, members of a radical Islamic group in Sri Lanka simultaneously bombed three Catholic churches and three five-star hotels. The attacks resulted in about 300 deaths and over 500 injuries, with one of the attackers being a woman wearing a niqab.

Furthermore - perhaps some have forgotten - in October 2002, 19 female suicide bombers from Movsar Barayev's group, dressed in niqabs, took over the Dubrovka Theatre Center in Moscow.

Therefore, it is no surprise that this black garment has caused fear among the public and exacerbated social tensions. However, demanding a ban on the niqab is not an attack on a specific religion. Moreover, orientalists believe that the niqab is not traditional attire for Muslims living in Russia.

By the way, the chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bystrekin, the chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Valery Fadeyev, and the deputy chairman of the Duma, member of the "New People" party, Vladislav Davankov, have all called for a ban on this black garment within the country. However, the government seems to have ignored their opinions...

"Komsomolskaya Pravda" asked political scientist Bogdan Bezpartko, member of the Presidential Council on National Relations, to comment on the situation:

"Indeed, today, in the former Soviet republics belonging to Turkestan and Central Asia, there are bans on the niqab. For Russia, this is a quite weighty example to refer to."

Because the majority of the population in these countries are Muslim. However, all these countries, like the Russian Federation, are secular states. That is, they are not official religious states like the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Nevertheless, there are several factors in Russia that hinder the introduction of such a ban against the niqab in the law.

The first factor is the deeply rooted political correctness, multiculturalism, and tolerance among our political elite, under which almost everything is allowed. However, in recent years, this "everything" has begun to gradually shrink. For example, LGBT is no longer popular, and even spreading related content is punishable by criminal law. But even so, the niqab is not yet included in this category.

"Komsomolskaya Pravda": Why is that?

"This can be explained as the need to interact with countries in the Global South, Arab countries, specifically Saudi Arabia and the Gulf monarchies.

And with many other countries, which may express dissatisfaction with this, as they would see it as suppression of Islam and its related dress customs.

On the other hand, the Central Asian republics and Kazakhstan do not fear such diplomatic complications.

Indeed, they are not in the same complex situation as Russia currently is.

That is, they are not, as Lavrov said, opposing the entire West. They are not in a state of military conflict, nor are they under as many economic sanctions as Russia.

Therefore, from the government's perspective, it might indeed be better not to exacerbate relations with certain countries.

Therefore, the first aspect is tolerance. The second is the diplomatic aspect. The third is the existence of internal factors.

"Komsomolskaya Pravda": Please explain.

"Some regions and their leaders believe they can decide the policy on such phenomena within Russia. I think this is certainly incorrect.

Because this will cause additional imbalance in our already asymmetric federation. Our regions are unequal in rights and capabilities. For example, Kostroma Oblast does not have the same rights as the Republic of Tatarstan or Chechnya.

So, in this case, I think the national level should take a moderate, calm but still eliminate this view.

But there is a fourth aspect, which is the issue of security.

You know, there's a Russian saying: "A man doesn't cross himself until the thunder roars." That is, the niqab will not be banned until someone is caught using it as a disguise to carry out a terrorist attack, or until a certain number of such attacks occur. Until there are a large number of fatal consequences and casualties, people will tolerate it.

"Komsomolskaya Pravda": Then, does the escalation of social tensions not matter?

"Personally, I am neutral towards the niqab. To me, it is just an element of foreign religious culture. But the problem is that the niqab is often associated with radical religious groups. Of course, this may cause negative perceptions among our citizens. Because in this regard, the niqab issue is precisely seen as a security issue.

That is, if people do not associate it with radical Islam, no one will pay attention to it. But I think that in Russia, there are phenomena much more dangerous than women wearing the niqab.

For example, in Verkhnyaya Kurya - which is actually part of Perm City - a huge mosque is being built. Despite the opposition of the local Tatar Muslims, who already have a historic mosque, and the fact that this mosque was restored and rebuilt with the joint efforts of all the residents - Christians and Muslims.

But the local government is persecuting those who dare to publicly criticize the construction of this large mosque. In my opinion, this is far more dangerous, and its scale is incomparable to wearing the niqab.

Dagestan is building a massive mosque that can accommodate 50,000 people. Yes, there are indeed many Muslims there, but the problem is that the construction funds for this mosque come from outside Russia.

Clearly from Turkey. And overall, Turkey is not our friend. This country may now disrupt the stability of the entire Caucasus region, especially in the context of deteriorating relations with Azerbaijan. I think we should focus on these phenomena first. Of course, we should not forget the issue of the niqab either.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533464141068010025/

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