In a move welcomed by Muslim communities around the world, the Russian government has allowed women the right to wear a headscarf or hijab in their passport photographs, as announced by the Russian Interior Ministry.
The new rules state that in cases where the religious beliefs of an applicant do not allow them to appear in front of strangers without a head covering, photographs are to be provided in head coverings that do not hide the oval of the face. Pictures with scarves that fully or partially obscure the chin will not be accepted.
The change covers various documents such as passport applications, driver’s licenses, work permits, and patents. This latest update extends the same rights to foreign nationals applying for Russian citizenship.
The initiative aims to allow believers to observe religious traditions while also ensuring the security of the state, as the face is needed so that video monitoring systems can identify a person, noted Biysultan Khamzaev, a member of the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee.
The decision comes after a long history of changing rules. During the Soviet era, headscarves and hijabs were not permitted in passport photos. After 1991, Muslim women began using hijab photos until a ban in 1997. The Russian Supreme Court overturned that ban in 2003, and since 2021, amendments to passport regulations have officially allowed religious head coverings in official photos.
President Vladimir Putin has underscored Russia’s status as a multinational and multi-religious country that respects diversity, with over 190 ethnic groups acknowledged across the nation.
