MOSCOW: Islamic authorities in Russia’s mostly-Muslim North Caucasus area of Dagestan on Wednesday (Jul 3) quickly banned ladies from carrying the niqab full-face veil, after simultaneous attacks targeting churches and synagogues killed 22 final month.
In a press release posted on the Telegram messenger app, the Dagestan Muftiate mentioned it was introducing a “short-term” ban on the niqab after an attraction from Russia’s ministry of nationality coverage and spiritual affairs.
Studies following the assaults on Jun 23 mentioned one of many gunmen had deliberate to flee carrying a niqab.
The muftiate, a spiritual organisation representing Dagestani Muslims, mentioned that the ban would stay in place “till the recognized threats are eradicated and a brand new theological conclusion is reached”.
The niqab, a method of veil that covers a lot of the face and physique, originated on the Arabian Peninsula and gained some reputation in Dagestan amid an Islamic revival within the area that adopted the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Although solely a small minority of Dagestani ladies put on full-face veils, niqabs have been a typical sight within the area’s bigger cities.
Related veils are banned by regulation in a number of European and post-Soviet nations.