Kyrgyzstan's Muftiate: Niqab Not Obligatory, Contradicts National Traditions

​The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (the Muftiate) has issued an official statement highlighting the risks of provocations and misinterpretations of Islam, Orda reports.

The Muftiate emphasized that wearing the niqab is not obligatory in Islam and contradicts the country's national traditions.​

The spiritual department clarified that, according to Sharia, a woman's face and hands are not considered 'awrat' (parts of the body that must be covered in front of strangers).

Moreover, in some cases, wearing a niqab is even prohibited — for example, during the Hajj to Mecca. The Muftiate also noted that today in Kyrgyzstan, there are no grounds for wearing the niqab from the point of view of security or religious prescriptions.​

At the beginning of 2025, a law came into force in Kyrgyzstan banning clothing that fully conceals the face in public spaces.

As of February 1, a fine of 20,000 soms (approximately $230) is imposed for violating this ban.

President Sadyr Japarov previously stated that the ban was approved by the country's Muftiate and cannot be considered state interference in religious matters. He also called on law enforcement agencies not to overreach in enforcement.

The spiritual directorate's statement also stated that religious matters should not be used for political purposes or provocations, as this is considered a sin.​

At the same time, the Kyrgyz authorities intend to regulate the construction of mosques and temples. The Cabinet of Ministers has submitted for discussion a project that suggests a minimum distance between mosques and temples: 2 km in villages, 3 km in rural areas, and 4 km in cities.

According to the authorities, about 650 unregistered religious sites have recently been identified.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov