Astana, July 1 -- Kazakhstan has become the latest country in Central Asia to ban veils and niqab worn by Muslim women, an official said.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday signed a law banning the wearing of clothing in public that obscures a person's face, except in limited cases defined by law, local media reported.
While the law does not explicitly name religious attire, it is widely understood to target garments such as the niqab, veils.
Under the new regulation, face-covering garments are only allowed in specific cases: when required by law, for official duties, medical reasons, protection from severe weather, for civil defense purposes or for participation in sports and cultural events.
Earlier reporting by Kursiv....