Hijab Controversy in Kazakstan
Hijab Controversy in Kazakstan
Opinion in Kazakstan is sharply divided on whether it is acceptable for women to wear “hijab” or Islamic dress.
Earlier this year, the education ministry issued a statement that the standard school uniform was mandatory, but that there was no legal ban on hijab. This reflects a general ambivalence about whether the authorities should move towards a tough French-style ban on hijab.
Some of those interviewed for this report – including hijab wearers – said it was a personal choice that did not affect other people and should not be subject to state regulation that is based on prejudice. Others argue that hijab is a foreign import that does not sit well with Kazakstan’s own traditions
This audio programme, in Russian, went out on Radio KN, a station in the Kostanai region of northern Kazakstan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
