Causing Fear and Religious Radicalism: Why Niqab is Banned in Dagestan

The Mufti of Dagestan has published the text of the "Sharia Ruling on Niqab," which outlines the justification for the temporary ban on this attire in the region that was issued at the beginning of July. The document is dated July 9 and is signed by a group of doctors in Islamic sciences.

The text of the "Sharia Ruling" includes references and quotations from books on the Shari'a rights (fiqh) of the four madhhabs, works by scholars, and also the Quran. The authors of the material emphasize that the document was created to clarify the status of the niqab in Islam and to provide information regarding scholars' opinions on this issue.

According to the Sharia ruling, the niqab is clothing that completely covers a woman's face, leaving only narrow openings for her eyes to see. The difference between the niqab and the hijab is in the degree of concealment of appearance.

The material states that in the modern world, the niqab has become a subject of discussion and controversy. Particularly, "in times of unrest and temptation," according to Sharia, Muslim women were advised and sometimes required to wear the niqab to "maintain modesty and prevent fitnah (temptation)."

"In certain countries, the niqab has become a symbol of religious radicalism and fanaticism. Therefore, in certain circumstances, theologians and religious leaders may advise against wearing the niqab in order to avoid risks that threaten the safety of society as a whole," the Sharia ruling explains.