Latest news with #ethnicidentity
Washington Post
07-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: Please don't ask waitress ‘where she's from'
Dear Miss Manners: I live in a place where many cultures and nationalities abound. When I was at a restaurant with friends the other day, we were served by a comely waitress. My friend commented on the beauty of the 'Asian waitress,' but I thought she was Latina. Is there a tactful and proper way to ask? Or are we better off not asking such a question at all? None of us wishes to offend anyone.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Kazakhstan has banned the burqa. Here's why
Kazakhstan has enacted a new law prohibiting the wearing of clothing in public that obscures the face and impedes facial recognition. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the legislation, which permits face coverings only for medical reasons, adverse weather, official duties, or specific events. The president said the ban aims to promote Kazakhstan's ethnic identity, encouraging national attire over face-concealing garments. This restriction follows similar bans on the face veil in other Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, often citing security or secularism. The new law comes after a 2023 government decision to ban headscarves in educational institutions, which resulted in protests and approximately 150 girls dropping out of school.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Another Central Asian country bans face veils as Muslim women told to embrace ‘national style'
Kazakhstan is prohibiting people from wearing clothing in public that obscures the face and impedes facial recognition, becoming the latest Central Asian country to restrict veils worn by Muslim women. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday signed a law banning clothing that "interferes with facial recognition" in public places. Such clothing is now only allowed for medical reasons, during adverse weather and at sporting or cultural events in the majority Muslim country. 'Wearing items of clothing in public places that impede facial recognition is prohibited,' the law states, 'except in cases where this is necessary to comply with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, fulfill official duties, or for medical, civil defense, weather-related or event-specific purposes'. Mr Tokayev previously said the ban was an opportunity to celebrate the ethnic identity of Kazakhstan. 'Rather than wearing face-concealing black robes, it's much better to wear clothes in the national style," he was quoted as saying by Kazakh media. 'Our national clothes vividly emphasise our ethnic identity, so we need to popularise them comprehensively.' Restrictions on the wearing of face veils have previously caused outrage among Kazakhs of the Muslim faith. The Tokayev government banned headscarves from educational institutions in 2023 claiming the 'requirements for school uniform prohibit the wearing of the hijab'. At least 150 girls dropped out of school in protest at the decision. According to official data, almost 70 per cent of Kazakhstan's population practises Islam, with Christianity the second most practised religion. The latest clothing ban follows similar restrictions on face veils by other Central Asian countries. Neighbouring Kyrgyzstan passed a law earlier this year prohibiting face veils from public places. Police in Kyrgyzstan conduct street patrols and raids to enforce the ban on the niqab face veil worn by some Muslim women, according to local media. Uzbekistan has also banned burqas and veils in public places and imposed a fine of over $250 for any violation. The country has cited security concerns and promotion of secularism as justification for the ban. Tajikistan passed a similar law in 2023 banning the wearing of any clothing that "contradicts national culture and traditions'.
