Ban on Hijab
The government of Kazakhstan has decided to impose a ban on the hijab headscarf for students and teachers in schools, citing the need to maintain a secular state. However, this decision has sparked strong reactions within the country, leading to a contentious debate.
The government asserts that this rule is essential to preserve a secular state. Official statistics indicate that nearly 70% of the population in Kazakhstan practices Islam. Proponents of the ban argue that Kazakhstan should maintain its secular nature without favoring any specific religion.
Conversely, many individuals oppose the ban, contending that it infringes on freedom of conscience. In response to the ban, around 150 girls in one region have dropped out of school since September. In another area, two men attacked a school director because she refused to allow girls wearing hijabs to attend classes.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev defended the ban, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s commitment to remaining a secular state. He believes that schools are places for acquiring knowledge, while religious beliefs are personal matters. He suggests that children should decide on their religious beliefs when they grow up.
In response to the ban, some schoolgirls have organized protests on social media, advocating for their right to wear the hijab. They argue that they won’t compromise on their hijab. Some prominent women have joined the protest, sharing photos of themselves wearing hijabs on social networks.
Opponents of the ban argue that it is illegal, stressing that the hijab is a headscarf that girls in Kazakhstan have worn since the age of 13. They believe it does not have a religious connotation and that the ban prevents Muslim girls from participating in secular life.
They suggest that only full-coverage clothing like the niqab, veil, and burqa should be banned since they obstruct personal identification. To address this issue, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kazakhstan has proposed that girls wishing to wear hijabs should attend madrasas (Muslim educational institutions) from the 10th grade onward, seen as a potential solution to allow hijab-wearing girls to receive an education.
The ban applies to all educational institutions in Kazakhstan, and as of now, the authorities have not objected to this proposed solution.
