Kyrgyz Government Rejects Headscarf Petition

(RFE/RL) October 6, 2006 -- A Muslim nongovernmental group says the Kyrgyz government has rejected its petition to allow veiled women to keep their heads covered when being photographed for identity cards and passports.

Jamal Frontbek-kyzy of the Mutakalim women's group said Prime Minister Feliks Kulov's office cited security reasons for its decision not to accept passport photos in which women appear with hijabs, or headscarves.

Frontbek-kyzy on October 4 said some 30,000 people had signed the petition.

(24.kg, Interfax)