Kazakhstan: Law Banning Face-Covering Clothing in Public Receives Presidential Signature

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev has signed a new law aimed at reforming law enforcement services, which includes a ban on wearing face-covering clothing in public places, Orda.kz reports.

The Aqorda website confirmed the President signed the Law “On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Issues of Improving Law Enforcement Services, Housing and Social Protection of Law Enforcement Officers, Special State Bodies, Civil Defense Bodies and Military Personnel, as well as the Elimination of Excessive Legislative Regulation in the Sphere of Activities of Internal Affairs Bodies.”

One provision was an amendment to the law on the prevention of offenses, introducing a ban on niqabs, masks, balaclavas, and other items that obscure the face in public spaces.

The law on crime prevention introduces a norm prohibiting the wearing of clothing in public places that prevents facial recognition, with the exception of medical purposes, weather conditions, and the performance of official or work duties. This measure increases the effectiveness of crime prevention in public places by improving the ability to recognize faces,
 Senator Nauryzbay Baikadamov stated during the consideration of the bill.

The law also includes regulations concerning the cultivation of industrial hemp.

The law establishes the competence of the Government to determine the varieties of hemp permitted for cultivation for industrial purposes not related to the production or manufacture of drugs, and defines the procedure for its industrial processing,
indicated in the explanatory materials to the law.

Additional provisions aim to enhance the law enforcement service and increase social protections for law enforcement officers, special government agencies, civil defense bodies, and military personnel.

The local police service has been dissolved and replaced by departments for prevention and public safety.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya