Islamic veiling practices by country

Two mannequins; one to the left wearing a hijab on the head and one to the right veiled in the style of a niqab.

Various styles of head coverings, most notably the khimar, hijab, chador, niqab, paranja, yashmak, tudong, shayla, safseri, carşaf, haik, dupatta, boshiya and burqa, are worn by Muslim women around the world, where the practice varies from mandatory to optional or restricted in different majority Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

Wearing the hijab is mandatory in conservative countries like Iran and Afghanistan.[1] In Gaza, State of Palestine, school officials have also voted to require young girls to wear hijab,[2] though the Palestinian Authority (in 1990) considered the hijab optional.[3]

In some Muslim majority countries (like Morocco and Tunisia)[4] there have been complaints of restriction or discrimination against women who wear the hijab, which can be seen as a sign of Islamism.[5][6] Several Muslim-majority countries have banned the burqa and hijab in public schools and universities or government buildings, including Tunisia (since 1981,[7] partially lifted in 2011), Turkey (gradually and partially lifted),[8][9] Kosovo (since 2009),[10] Azerbaijan (since 2010[11]), Kazakhstan, and [12] Kyrgyzstan.[13] Muslim-majority Tajikistan banned the hijab completely on 20 June 2024.[14]

In several countries in Europe, the wearing of hijabs has led to political controversies and proposals for a legal ban. Laws have been passed in France and Belgium to ban face-covering clothing, popularly described as the "burqa ban", although applies not merely to the Afghani burqa, but to all face coverings ranging from the niqab to bodysuits, and does not apply to hijab which do not conceal the face.

Legal restrictions on the burqa and niqab, variations of Islamic female clothing which cover the face, are more widespread than restrictions on hijab. There are currently 16 states that have banned the burqa (not to be confused with the hijab), including Tunisia,[15] Austria, Denmark, France, Belgium,[16] Tajikistan, Bulgaria,[17] Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Netherlands,[18] China (in Xinjiang Region),[19] Morocco, Sri Lanka[20] and Switzerland. Similar legislation or more stringent restrictions are being discussed in other nations. Some of them apply only to face-covering clothing such as the burqa, boushiya, or niqāb, while other legislation pertains to any clothing with an Islamic religious symbolism such as the khimar. Some countries already have laws banning the wearing of masks in public, which can be applied to veils that conceal the face. The issue has different names in different countries, and "the veil" or hijab may be used as general terms for the debate, representing more than just the veil itself, or the concept of modesty embodied in hijab.

  1. ^ Milani, Farzaneh (1992). Veils and Words: The Emerging Voices of Iranian Women Writers, Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, pp. 37–38, ISBN 9780815602668
  2. ^ Mahmoud, Amany (6 October 2022). "Gaza schools impose hijab to students' dismay". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Women, the Hijab and the Intifada". 4 May 1990.
  4. ^ Hawkins, Simon (2011). "Who Wears Hijab with the President: Constructing a Modern Islam in Tunisia". Journal of Religion in Africa. 41 (1). Franklin and Marshall College: 35–58. doi:10.1163/157006611X556629. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 41306029.
  5. ^ Bashirov, Galib (2020). "The Politics of the Hijab in Post-Soviet Azerbaijan". Nationalities Papers. 48 (2). Deakin University: 357–372. doi:10.1017/nps.2018.81. ISSN 0090-5992. S2CID 212928375.
  6. ^ Nate Schenkkan (2011). "Kyrgyzstan: Hijab Controversy Charges Debate over Islam's Role in Society". Eurasianet. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference tunisiahijab was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Turkey headscarf ruling condemned Al Jazeera English (7 June 2008). Retrieved in February 2009.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference news24.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Headscarf ban sparks debate over Kosovo's identity" news.bbc.co.uk 24 August 2010. Link retrieved 24 August 2010
  11. ^ "AZERBAIJAN: Feud over ban on Islamic head scarves fuels fears of Iranian meddling". 30 December 2010.
  12. ^ https://cabar.asia/en/author/anarbekbasova (8 May 2023). "Hijabs in Schools of Kazakhstan: To Allow or Not?". CABAR.asia. Retrieved 24 August 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  13. ^ "Kyrgyzstan Bans Head Scarves From Schools". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Why did Muslim-majority Tajikistan ban the hijab?". euronews. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Tunisian PM bans wearing of niqab in public institutions". Reuters. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  16. ^ "Unveiling: Malaysian activist fights for hijab freedom". Bangkok Post, Agence France Presse. September 2020.
  17. ^ Bulgaria the latest European country to ban the burqa and niqab in public places, Smh.com.au: accessed 5 December 2016.
  18. ^ Halasz, Stephanie; McKenzie, Sheena (27 June 2018). "The Netherlands introduces burqa ban in some public spaces". CNN. No. 27 June 2018. CNN. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  19. ^ Phillips, Tom (13 January 2015). "China bans burqa in capital of Muslim region of Xinjiang". The Telegraph. No. 13 January 2015. The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  20. ^ "Sri Lanka to ban burqas, close over 1,000 Islamic schools". ABC News, Associated Press. 13 March 2021.