More than 1,600 Kazakhstanis penalized for wearing face-covering clothing

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry has reminded citizens that wearing clothing in public places that prevents facial identification is prohibited.
According to the Interior Ministry, this requirement is established by the Law “On Crime Prevention” and is intended to ensure public safety and maintain law and order.
The restriction does not apply in cases involving weather conditions, medical reasons, the performance of official duties, or participation in sporting, cultural and public events.
Under Article 434-3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, a first violation results in a warning. A repeated violation within one year is punishable by a fine of 10 monthly calculation indices, or 43,250 tenge.

“Currently, 1,613 citizens have been held administratively liable for this offense,” the Interior Ministry added.

As a reminder, a law banning clothing that completely covers the face in public places came into effect in Kazakhstan in July 2025. Police previously explained that the purpose of the amendments was straightforward: to ensure safety and public order and allow a person to be quickly identified when necessary, including through surveillance cameras. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the measure is not intended to restrict the right to freedom of religion.