Coordination Centre for Muslims of Northern Caucasus calls niqab a threat

Wearing niqabs and burqas in modern conditions causes practical harm to Muslims and threatens discord in interreligious and interethnic relations, announces the Coordination Centre for Muslims of Northern Caucasus.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Dagestan announced that the republic imposed a ban on wearing a niqab until a new theological conclusion.

“It is necessary to clearly separate the concepts of ‘hijab’ and ‘niqab.’ The Islamic religion prescribes the covering of parts of the body with the exception of the face, hands, and feet, that is, wearing a ‘hijab’ where the face remains open. There is no talk of banning the hijab and cannot be such a talk,” the Coordination Centre for Muslims of Northern Caucasus indicated on its official website.

“A niqab (women’s clothing with a narrow slit for the eyes) has never been a traditional form of clothing in Northern Caucasus. Even in some countries where Islam is the state religion, there is a complete or partial ban on wearing a niqab in public places,” the Coordination Centre for Muslims of Northern Caucasus emphasizes in its statement.

Let us remind you that the authorities of Dagestan joined the discussion about niqabs after the militants’ attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Dagestan may issue a fatwa banning the niqab, but this is only a recommendation, religious scholars and Caucasian experts believe. They note that violators of the ban face a maximum of condemnation and reprimand.