Dagestani Muftiate announces temporary ban on niqabs

A ban on wearing niqabs has been introduced in Dagestan; it will remain in force until a new theological conclusion, the republic's Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM or Muftiate) has announced.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Akhmad-Afandi Abdulaev, the Mufti of Dagestan had stated that the Dagestani Muftiate would soon issue a fatwa banning niqabs. There are no grounds for a universal ban on niqabs, but a temporary ban may be introduced for security reasons, the head of the Muftiate's fatwa division said on July 2.

The Mufti made his statement after Sergey Melikov, the head of Dagestan, spoke out against wearing niqabs. Mr Melikov voiced his position out two days after the militant attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala. The Dagestan SAM, as a religious organization, can issue a fatwa banning niqabs, but this is only a recommendation, and violators thereof face a reprimand as maximum, Islamic scholars have explained.

Let us recall that on June 23 in Derbent and Makhachkala, militants attacked synagogues and Orthodox churches. As a result, 22 people perished and 46 others were wounded.