Hijab controversy in Russia: Z-patriots and Caucasian Muslims are in conflict

Earlier, we reported that the ban on wearing the niqab and hijab in schools was introduced in the Vladimir region of Russia. The reason for this is to create a "business environment" and "prevent national and religious conflicts."

According to Deutsche Welle, this decision is not aimed at preventing conflicts, but on the contrary, it has widened the gap between Muslims and people belonging to other categories in Russia. It is noted that this issue has become a dispute at the federal level.

Vladimir Region is already the third region in Russia where such restrictions have been introduced: the same ban has been introduced in Khanty-Mansiysk and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs. For example, due to this ban, in September 2022, a school student in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug reported that he was expelled from school, but the local authorities later excluded him. As a result, the quarrel was quickly put to rest. But in the Vladimir region, this distinction quickly became a problem of federal importance.

The fact is that within a few days, two camps in Russia - Z-patriots and politicians of the North Caucasus republics - quarreled with each other.

The deputy of the Russian State Duma, Biysultan Hamzaev from Dagestan, called the officials of the Vladimir region "fools". His colleague from Chechnya, Adam Delimkhanov, reported on the Telegram channel that on behalf of Ramzan Kadyrov, "negotiations" are being held with local officials of the Vladimir region.

Delimkhanov's statements aroused the discontent of Z-patriots. The Provenny Telegram channel "Ikki Major" called putting pressure on the authorities of the Vladimir region "an extension of the influence of Chechen deputies to other regions." Also, "voenkor" Roman Saponkov claimed that "such actions are weakening the federal center.

"It is difficult to assess how legitimate the actions of the authorities of the Vladimir region are, they raised a very sensitive issue for Muslims," Islamologist Ahmad Yorlikapov told a German publication.

Yorlikapov said that there is a special attitude to the hijab among the Muslims of the North Caucasus: it cannot be banned. Such restrictions may cause serious opposition in Russia.