The Muftiate of the Republic of Dagestan has advised local women to cover their faces with fans instead of niqabs, according to a Shariah resolution issued on July 9.
The Muftiate pointed out that the niqab has become a sign of religious radicalism and fanaticism in certain countries.
"Our sisters should understand the time and the state we live in… If a woman senses someone’s intense gaze, she may cover her face with a fan, a piece of her headscarf, and so on, until she leaves the place where she experiences such looks," wrote the Muftiate.
On July 3, Dagestan imposed a temporary ban on niqabs due to the "existing threat to the citizens’ safety." The next day, niqabs were banned in Karachay-Cherkessia. A similar measure is currently being discussed in Novosibirsk Oblast. The Muftiate of North Ossetia also spoke against the use of niqabs.
The discussion of banning niqabs started after terrorist attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent on June 23. The assault on churches and a synagogue in Dagestan resulted in 22 fatalities, 17 of whom were police officers.