In the Vladimir Oblast of Russia, schools have made adjustments to the dress code for students in primary and secondary education. According to the newly released directive, students enrolled in formal education are prohibited from covering their faces and heads.

Local education authorities in the Vladimir Oblast of Russia have banned students from wearing religious clothing such as headscarves in schools under the new dress code. The Ministry of Regional Education and Youth Policy stated that a new clause had been added to the rules regarding the attire of students receiving primary and secondary education, outlining “standard requirements.” The amendment prohibits the presence of clothing and elements that display the student’s religious beliefs in educational institutions.

“THE SECULAR NATURE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS” While officials claim that the new rules comply with the Russian Constitution and emphasize that the latest amendment does not target Muslims specifically, they announced that the regulation would come into effect within a week. They stated, “These rules regarding school attire and students’ appearance aim to maintain the secular nature of the state and educational institutions and their religious neutrality.”

SUCCESSIVE BANS ON RELIGIOUS ATTIRE The Vladimir Oblast is located 200 kilometers east of the capital, Moscow. The majority of the population consists of Russian citizens, while less than 1% of the population is Muslim. Different regions of Russia have recently introduced similar rules citing security reasons. The Russian media outlet RT reported that these measures were taken following terrorist attacks targeting Christians and Jews in the region.