Islamic veiling practices by country

A map of hijab in the world. Dress codes for women in Muslim countries The hijab refers to both the head-covering traditionally worn by some Muslim women and modest Islamic styles of dress in general. The garment has different legal and cultural statuses in various countries. There are countries, including France (since 2004), which have banned the wearing of all overt religious symbols, including the hijab (a Muslim headscarf , literally Arabic "to cover"), in public schools and universities or government buildings. Tunisia (since 1981, lifted in 2011) and Turkey (since 1997, lifted on 2014) are the only Muslim-majority countries which have banned the hijab in public schools and universities or government buildings, while Syria banned face veils in universities from July 2010. This ban was lifted during the 2011 Syrian uprising . In other Muslim states such as Morocco , there has been some restriction or discrimination against women who wear the hijab. The hijab in these cases is seen as a sign of political Islam or fundamentalism against secular government. Islamic dress , notably the variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women , has become a prominent symbol of the presence of Islam in western Europe . In several countries this adherence to hijab has led to political controversies and proposals for a legal ban. The Dutch parliament has decided to introduce a ban on face-covering clothing, popularly described as the "burqa ban", although it does not only apply to the Afghan-model burqa . Similar laws have been passed in France and Belgium . Other countries are debating similar legislation, or have more limited prohibitions. 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 , a type of headscarf . (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 . Although the Balkans and Eastern Europe have indigenous Muslim populations, most Muslims in western Europe are members of immigrant communities. The issue of Islamic dress is linked with issues of immigration and the position of Islam in Western Europe . French MPs back headscarf ban BBC News (BBC). Turkey headscarf ruling condemned Al Jazeera English (7 June 2008). Syria bans face veils at universities Richard Hamilton (6 October 2006) Morocco moves to drop headscarf BBC News (BBC).

A map of countries with a burqa ban as of 2019 The word hijab refers to both the head-covering traditionally worn by some Muslim women and Islamic styles of dress in general. The garment has different legal and cultural status in various countries. In the Indonesian Aceh province, Muslim women are required to wear the hijab and all women are required to do so in Iran. France has banned overt religious symbols, including many religious headcoverings, in public schools and government buildings. Kosovo (since 2009), Azerbaijan (since 2010 ), Tunisia (since 1981, partially lifted in 2011) and Turkey (gradually lifted) are the only Muslim-majority countries which have banned the hijab in public schools and universities or government buildings, while Syria and Egypt banned face veils in universities from July 2010 and 2015 respectively. In other Muslim states such as Morocco , there have been complaints of restriction or discrimination against women who wear the hijab . The hijab in these cases is seen as a sign of political Islam or fundamentalism against secular government. Islamic dress , notably the variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women , has become a prominent symbol of the presence of Islam in western Europe . In several countries, this adherence to hijab 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 it does not only apply to the Afghan-model burqa . Other countries are debating similar legislation, or have more limited prohibitions. 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 , a type of headscarf. 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 . Although the Balkans and Eastern Europe have Muslim populations, most Muslims in western Europe are members of immigrant communities. The issue of Islamic dress is linked with issues of immigration and the position of Islam in Western Europe. There are currently 16 nations that have banned the burqa (not to be confused with the hijab), including Tunisia , Austria , Denmark , France , Belgium , Tajikistan , Latvia , Bulgaria , Cameroon , Chad , Congo-Brazzaville , Gabon , Netherlands , China , Morocco Jewel Topsfield (7 April 2016). The Sydney Morning Herald . "Headscarf ban sparks debate over Kosovo's identity" news.bbc.co.uk 24 August 2010. Turkey headscarf ruling condemned Al Jazeera English (7 June 2008). Egypt's ban of Face Veil [1] Richard Hamilton (6 October 2006) Morocco moves to drop headscarf BBC News (BBC). "A European government has banned Islamic face veils despite them being worn by just three women" . 21 April 2016 .

Muslim head coverings for women as worn in different countries 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 hijab , chador , niqab and burqa , are worn by Muslim women around the world, where the practice various from mandatory to optional or restricted in different majority Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Veiling is mandatory is some conservative Muslim countries, including Iran , Afghanistan , in Saudi Arabia (in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina ), and for Muslim women in the Aceh province of Indonesia . In Gaza , State of Palestine , school officials have also voted to require young girls to wear hijab, though the Palestinian Authority considers the hijab optional, and has punished those that have attempted to enforce it. In some Muslim majority countries (like Morocco ) there have been complaints of restriction or discrimination against women who wear the hijab, which can be seen as a sign of Islamic fundamentalism . Four Muslim-majority countries have banned the burqa in public schools and universities or government buildings, including Kosovo (since 2009), Azerbaijan (since 2010 ), Tunisia (since 1981, partially lifted in 2011) and Turkey (gradually and partially lifted). In Europe, although Muslims communities have been established for many centuries, they are often viewed as members of immigrant communities. and the issue of Islamic dress can be linked to issues of immigration. 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 it does not apply to the hijab, but rather to all face coverings ranging from the niqab to bodysuits. 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 , Austria , Denmark , France, Belgium, Tajikistan , Bulgaria , Cameroon , Chad , Republic of the Congo , Gabon , Netherlands , China (in Xinjiang Region ), Morocco , Sri Lanka 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 . The Sydney Morning Herald . Journal of Religion in Africa . 41 (1). "Headscarf ban sparks debate over Kosovo's identity" news.bbc.co.uk 24 August 2010. Turkey headscarf ruling condemned Al Jazeera English (7 June 2008).

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 such as the Ayatollah-led Islamic Republic of Iran and the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan . Gaza school officials have also voted to require young girls to wear hijab, though the Palestinian Authority (in 1990) considered the hijab optional. In some Muslim majority countries (like Morocco and Tunisia ) there have been complaints of restriction or discrimination against women who wear the hijab, which can be seen as a sign of Islamism . Several Muslim-majority countries have banned the burqa and hijab in public schools and universities or government buildings, including Tunisia (since 1981, partially lifted in 2011), Turkey (gradually and partially lifted), Kosovo (since 2009), Azerbaijan (since 2010 ), Kazakhstan , and Kyrgyzstan . Muslim-majority Tajikistan banned the hijab completely on 20 June 2024. 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 , Austria , Denmark , France, Belgium, Tajikistan , Bulgaria , Cameroon , Chad , Republic of the Congo , Gabon , Netherlands , China (in Xinjiang Region ), Morocco , Sri Lanka 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 . Journal of Religion in Africa . 41 (1). Turkey headscarf ruling condemned Al Jazeera English (7 June 2008). "Headscarf ban sparks debate over Kosovo's identity" news.bbc.co.uk 24 August 2010. "Why did Muslim-majority Tajikistan ban the hijab?" . euronews . 24 June 2024 .