Hijab Controversy in Kazakstan

Opinion in Kazakstan is sharply divided on whether it is acceptable for women to wear “hijab” or Islamic dress.

Earlier this year, the education ministry issued a statement that the standard school uniform was mandatory, but that there was no legal ban on hijab. This reflects a general ambivalence about whether the authorities should move towards a tough French-style ban on hijab.

Some of those interviewed for this report – including hijab wearers – said it was a personal choice that did not affect other people and should not be subject to state regulation that is based on prejudice. Others argue that hijab is a foreign import that does not sit well with Kazakstan’s own traditions

This audio programme, in Russian, went out on Radio KN, a station in the Kostanai region of northern Kazakstan, as part of IWPR project work funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.