Dagestan Implements Temporary Niqab Ban Amid Security Concerns
In response to deadly attacks in the region, the Russian province of Dagestan has announced a temporary ban on the niqab, a full-face veil with an opening for the eyes. This measure is intended to enhance security following a series of violent incidents last month. The niqab ban will remain in place until the identified threats are eliminated and a new theological conclusion is issued, according to Abdulla Salimov, the deputy mufti of Dagestan.
On June 23, gunmen launched attacks on several places of worship and a police traffic stop in two cities within the Muslim-majority republic. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15 police officers and four civilians, including an Orthodox priest. The muftiyat, the highest Muslim religious body in Dagestan, declared the ban in a video message on their Telegram channel, citing a threat to public safety.
Security Measures and Public Reactions
The advisor to the mufti of Dagestan, Muhammad Muhammadov, clarified that the ban applies in public places where security and personal identification are necessary, such as streets, public institutions, and other areas with large concentrations of people. The North Caucasus Muslim Coordination Center supported the measure, stating that the use of the niqab, burqa, and other face-covering garments could threaten interreligious and interethnic relations.
The head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, has called on lawmakers to urgently ban the niqab across Russia, attributing the Dagestan attacks to 'Islamist terrorists.' While no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, law enforcement officials believe the attackers are adherents of an international terrorist organization. The situation remains tense as authorities continue to investigate and respond to the evolving security threats.
- The recent attacks in Dagestan are reminiscent of the region's turbulent past, marked by repeated armed clashes with jihadists in the 2000s. The Islamist insurgency in the Caucasus was eventually subdued by Russian forces after years of conflict.
- Authorities have provided limited information about the identities and motivations of the attackers involved in the June 23 incidents. However, the attacks have heightened security concerns and prompted swift measures to prevent further violence.
