In Kyrgyzstan, there may soon be penalties for wearing a niqab in public spaces.

Some lawmakers believe that the amount of the fine is excessively high for citizens, particularly for women from socially vulnerable groups who are most often seen wearing the niqab. Previously, the State Commission for Religious Affairs was urged to remove the provision banning the niqab from the draft law, as it was deemed contradictory to democratic principles.

The proponents of the bill argue that this restriction is necessary for identifying individuals in public places and government institutions. Today, the document will be reviewed in its second reading.

Earlier, Majilis deputy Ermurad Bapi expressed the need for regulation regarding the wearing of religious clothing in Kazakhstan. He emphasized that the issue is not with hijabs, but rather with the influence of destructive currents in Islam that undermine the national traditions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.