Uzbekistan's parliament bans face-covering clothing

The legislative (lower) chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (parliament) adopted amendments that ban clothing that hides the face and impedes identification.

Those who will violate the ban will face disciplinary penalty. The form of penalty is not specified, the parliament said.

The clothing that hides the face due to a medical diagnosis or prescription, as well as official activity is not banned.

The amendment was adopted to improve the effectiveness of measures to maintain public order in Uzbekistan, in particular, to improve the work of information programmes of the "Safe City" system.