'Black Is Only For Funerals!' Kazakh President Calls For Ban Against Islamic Attire

[TomSea]

'Black Is Only For Funerals!' Kazakh President Calls For Ban Against Islamic Attire

Black clothing is only for funerals, says Kazakhstan's president, who wants a legal ban on certain Islamic clothing -- such as body-covering black garments for women and so-called Salafi-style ankle-length pants for men.

In a meeting with the country's religious leaders in the capital, Astana, on April 9, Nursultan Nazarbaev expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend among young Kazakhs to opt for religious garb.

"Our young men grow beards and cut the length of their trousers [above the ankles]," he said, referring to styles of dress and appearance that are often associated with conservative Muslims who are branded as "Salafis" and portrayed by the authorities as followers of a potentially dangerous strand of Islam.

Continued: http://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-nazarbaev-banning-islamic-dress-black-funerals/28447008.html