Vladimir region was the first in Russia to ban hijab in schools

Vladimir region was the first in Russia to completely ban hijab and niqab in schools. This decision was attributed to the fact that Russia is a "secular state separated from the church and the state, including the education system."

The Ministry of Education and Youth Policy of the Vladimir Region has officially banned the wearing of religious clothing, including hijab and niqab, in educational institutions in the region. The relevant order was issued on October 25, 2024.

The department's page on the VKontakte social network clarifies that this decision is related to the fact that Russia is a "secular state separated from the church and the state, including the education system." According to Vedomosti, the Vladimir region was the first region in Russia to permanently adopt such a ban.

In May 2024, the Deputy Speaker of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Davankov, proposed a bill that would allow educational institutions to impose restrictions on the wearing of face-covering religious clothing.

However, this proposal was criticized by representatives of the Chechen government. In particular, the deputy of the State Duma, Adam Delimkhanov, said that the authorities of the republic "do not approve" of wearing a face covering mask, but the hijab is "a religious duty of a Muslim woman." Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also opposed the ban.

In June 2024, the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, called for an "urgent" ban on the niqab, citing the "threat of terrorist attacks" in Russia. In response, the muftis of Dagestan and Karachay-Cherkessia temporarily banned the wearing of the niqab in their territories.