The full-face veil, known as the niqab, was temporarily outlawed by Islamic authorities in Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim province of Russia, on Wednesday. This move followed 22 fatal attacks on churches and synagogues last month.
The Dagestan Muftiate announced a “temporary” ban on the niqab in a statement shared on the Telegram messaging app in response to a request from Russia’s ministry of religious affairs and nationality policy.
Following the June 23 attacks, reports surfaced claiming that one of the gunmen intended to don a niqab in order to escape.
The prohibition will be in effect “until the identified threats are eliminated and a new theological conclusion is reached,” according to the muftiate, a religious organization that represents Muslims in Dagestan.
Originating on the Arabian Peninsula, the niqab is a type of veil that covers the majority of the face and body. It became somewhat popular in Dagestan during the Islamic renaissance that followed the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
While the majority of women in Dagestan wear full-face veils, niqabs are a common sight in the main cities of the province.
