The Kazakh government’s recent decision to ban the wearing of the hijab headscarf in educational institutions has ignited a heated debate in the country. The announcement, made on October 16, has led to both support and opposition from various segments of the population.
The ban, as stated on the government’s website, extends to students and teachers, with the rationale that school uniforms should not allow any element that could be seen as promoting any religious dogma. It emphasises the principles of secularism and equality among all religions under the law but specifies that the hijab ban does not apply outside of schools as reported by DW.
Official figures indicate that nearly 70% of Kazakhstan’s population practices Islam. Proponents of the ban argue that Kazakhstan is a secular nation and should not privilege any particular religion. They maintain that the ban is essential to uphold the principles of secularism.
Opponents, on the other hand, claim that the ban infringes on the freedom of conscience. Some have even taken drastic measures to protest the decision. In the Atyrau region, for instance, approximately 150 girls have dropped out of school since September in protest against the hijab ban. In a disturbing incident in the Turkestan region, two men allegedly assaulted a school director who refused to allow girls wearing hijabs to attend classes.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the separation of religious beliefs from the educational system, asserting that “a school is an educational institution where people come to acquire knowledge, while religious beliefs are a private matter.” He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to being a secular state that guarantees freedom of religion.
Despite the controversy, the authorities have not opposed a proposed solution from the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan. The Supreme Mufti of Kazakhstan, Nauryzbay Kazhy Taganuly, suggested that girls who wish to wear the hijab could be taught in madrasas, Muslim educational institutions, starting from the 10th grade. He explained that these madrasas follow the Ministry of Education’s standard for higher education, and this option has not faced objections from the authorities, despite the ban on hijabs in all educational institutions.
The ban has sparked protests, with schoolgirls taking to social media to express their discontent. Leading female public figures have joined the cause, arguing that the hijab is a cultural tradition and does not necessarily have religious connotations. They view the ban as a form of segregation.

Karnataka becomes pro-hijab

In a comparative context, Karnataka, a Hindu-majority state currently under the governance of the Congress party, has adopted a more permissive stance on the issue of Muslim students wearing hijabs.

The Karnataka Exam Authority is preparing to conduct recruitment exams for various positions on October 28 and 29. Despite an ongoing dispute within the state, the board has issued an order permitting female Muslim students to wear hijabs during the examination. This decision followed discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Education Minister MC Sudhakar.
Speaking to India Today, Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister, MC Sudhakar, stressed on the secular nature of the country, stating, “This is a secular country. People are free to dress however they want,”. This decision reflects a shift in policy from last year.

In 2022, when the state of Karnataka was governed by the BJP, students were prohibited from wearing hijabs in government schools. This directive was issued in response to an incident in December 2021. The Karnataka High Court upheld the ban in March 2022, asserting that the hijab was not an essential component of religious practice. However, the matter reached the Supreme Court, which recently issued a divided decision on October 22, further highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the issue of hijab-wearing in educational institutions in Karnataka.