Deputy of the Parliament Sharapatkan Mazhitova proposes to ban wearing of clothing that covers the face and a voluminous beard in Kyrgyzstan. The corresponding amendments to the Code of Offences have been submitted for public discussion.
As the background statement says, the draft law aims to maintain a balance between the need to ensure security and identification of individuals and respect for the rights and freedoms of citizens. It was developed to prevent and suppress by government agencies the wearing of the burqa (face covering) and voluminous beards, which restrict personal identification in public places. However, foreigners and diplomats will not have to shave their face. The ban will not apply to them.
«The proposal is related to legislative changes aimed at regulating the clothing and appearance of citizens in public places in order to ensure the possibility of personal identification. It is important to note that such laws must respect basic human rights principles, including the right to privacy and personal freedom,» the document says.
It is noted that according to the current Law on Biometric Registration of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, the following parameters are subject to mandatory collection, processing, storage and use: digital graphic image of the face, graphic structure of papillary patterns of fingers of both hands, handwritten signature. These biometric parameters make it possible to effectively identify citizens and ensure security when performing various government and public functions.
An important element of this identification system is the digital graphic image of the face, which allows citizens to be more reliably identified and maintain security.
The background statement emphasizes that the bill does not discriminate against citizens on the basis of their religious beliefs. «It does not restrict the right to free expression of religion and beliefs of citizens outside public places and does not prohibit wearing of national or different headwear,» the document says.
On September 7, at a meeting of Parliament, Sharapatkan Mazhitova proposed to prohibit wearing of clothing that completely covers the face in public places.
