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Kyrgyzstan Bans Islamic Niqab As Critics Warn It Could Alienate Some Women. (www.rferl.org)

submitted 1 day ago by Cat@ponder.cat to c/world@quokk.au

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Kyrgyzstan has outlawed the all-covering Islamic niqab. Authorities insists the ban does not extend to the hijab, the Islamic headscarf that has long been outlawed in schools and offices in all other Central Asian countries.

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[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The phrasing of the summary piqued my interest, and I'm glad that I read that article.

At first I was glad that people wouldn't be forced to do something they didn't want to do, but now that is not what it seems this is.

It sounds like the Kyrgyzstan government isn't happy having the number of people with those beliefs that they do, and they are trying to suppress their religious beliefs in the name of "security," which is usually not the best thing.

If a woman is being forced to wear coverings against their will, that is absolutely bad, but if they do believe those things and are banned, that seems wrong. They also want to limit the men's right to long beards for the same claimed security risks.

While this may benefit some oppressed people, it feels that would only be a byproduct of suppression from the other side.

If anyone else reads the article and has a different opinion, I'm curious to hear it. I am not much familiar with these beliefs or this part of the world.

[–] juli@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Women in some societies aren't free to make their own decisions and are peered pressured by family and society into old-fashioned opression and they can not speak out against it. Laws like these are meant to give people without a voice something to stand on.

Also, it's 2025, fuck religious beliefs that dictate what people wear.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes, I felt I was clear I wasn't in favor of religious oppression, though the downvotes seem to say some people didn't get that.

But I am equally against government oppression, which is what this ban seems to be, as it targets the religion as a group, not specifically those of that religion that are oppressing people. It came off to me as more "women must not wear this and men must not have this type of beard" instead of "women are free to dress as they please and men can have whatever facial hair they please." Trading one form of oppression for another isn't a win in my book, which was my original point.

So I'm not sure if people just misread what I wrote, or are just mad that I defended any type of religious choices. I'm not any form of religious myself, but I'm not opposed to others choosing to be, as long as it is actually a free choice for them to be.

[–] heavydust@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

But I am equally against government oppression

I am not. IMHO Religious oppression should be stopped before any other kind of oppression. That's why I think Kyrgyzstan is doing the right thing since you can't please everyone.

[–] liyunxiao@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Religious oppression is wrong, as is state oppression of religion. Let people wear what they want. Most of the time the burka/niqab is an active choice by the woman.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Come to think of it, states have a lot more "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots" than any religion I've ever heard about... 😁

Some may want to wear it because they believe in its religious function, maybe because it's just what they're used to, maybe they are indoctrinated, but I've seen interviews with women who say they want to wear it for one reason or another. I'm with you in that as long as they aren't coerced, they should do what pleases themselves.

People make a lot of choices I wouldn't make, but mostly it is their right to make them.

[–] misterdoctor@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago

HOW ABOUT WE STOP FUCKING LEGISLATING WHAT WOMEN WEAR?