Ossetian journalists treat niqab problem as far-fetched

The issue of banning niqabs is not acute in North Ossetia; its Muftiate made no recommendations to abandon wearing them, the North-Ossetian Deputy Mufti has stated. There is no link between extremism and clothing; to counter it, it is necessary to develop civil institutions and improve living standards, journalists and bloggers have suggested.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that wearing niqabs is temporarily prohibited in Dagestan; the republic's Muftiate announced that on July 3. The next day, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM, or Muftiate) of Karachay-Cherkessia also temporarily banned wearing niqabs. The Muftiate of Kabardino-Balkaria stated that wearing niqabs is a custom and not an obligation of Muslim women. The Main SAM of North Ossetia recommended abandoning wearing niqabs.

Ibragim Dzagurov, Deputy Mufti of North Ossetia, according to whom the TASS Agency published news about the decision to ban niqabs, has refuted this. According to his version, the issue of niqabs is not an issue in the region at all, reports the "Ossetia" Telegram channel.

Niqabs are alien to the Ossetian culture, but there is no connection between clothing and extremism, Ruslan Totrov, a journalist, has stated.

The number of covered Muslim women is growing in North Ossetia, but the issue of niqabs is not relevant in the region, Alexei Pukhaev, a blogger, has pointed out. In his opinion, a ban on wearing religious clothing could contribute to radicalization.

“Unfortunately, now the state has chosen a tactic where they prefer to hush up problems instead of bringing them up for discussion,” he has emphasized.

Increasing living standards helps to reduce extremist sentiments, Batraz Misikov, a blogger, believes; he was wounded in the 2004 terror act in Beslan. "In the fight against extremism, there is nothing better than increasing citizens' living standards and interreligious dialogue,” he said.

Agube Galuev, a lawyer, believes that if a ban on wearing niqabs is introduced by law, it may conflict with international norms and the Russian Constitution.