By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – On Thursday, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, publicly opposed Muslim students wearing headscarves in Russian schools. Putin’s statement was in response to a school principal forbidding Muslim girls from wearing headscarves in Russia’s southern Stavropol region.

Putin believes Russia is a “secular state and must create equal conditions for all its citizens.” He added, “any departure from secular rules in public life could eventually lead to the infringement on the rights of followers of other religions. It would be better if all people feel equal.”

However, simultaneously, Putin clarified his statement by saying authorities should respect followers of all religions. Putin also stated, “We must always treat the religious feelings of people with great respect. That must be shown in the state’s activities, in the nuances, in everything.”

Putin’s opposition to headscarves is not the first incident concerning Muslim headscarves. This past month, police in Azerbaijan quarreled with individuals who protested a ban on the wearing of headscarves in the predominately Muslim ex-Soviet nation’s secondary schools.

Roughly 20 million of Russia’s 143 million population are Muslims and nearly make up the majority of the population in many regions. Moreover, if the dispute over headscarves in schools worsens, Russia risks generating tension between the federal government and Muslim-dominated provinces.

For example, Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, imposed a strict Islamic dress code on females. Girls and women are required to wear headscarves in public. Kadyrov’s security forces have used paintball guns, threats and insults to ensure that women obey the dress code.

Conversely, countries in Europe, such as France, Belgium, and various towns in Spain, have also banned the wearing of headscarves or face-covering Islamic veils in public areas. Putin states, “We must have a look at how such issues are solved by our neighbors in European countries, and all will become clear.”

For further information, please see:

RFE/RL — Putin Opposes Head Scarves In Schools – 19 October 2012

ABC News — Putin Opposes the Wearing of Headscarves at School – 18 October 2012

Al Arabiya News — Putin opposes Muslim headscarves at schools, says Russia is secular state – 18 October 2012

The Huffington Post — Russia Head Scarf Ban: Putin Opposes Headscarves At Russian School – 18 October 2012