The Republic of Dagestan Temporarily Bans Wearing Masks and Burqas

The autonomous Republic of Dagestan in southern Russia has temporarily banned wearing masks and burqas until "security threats" are resolved. This order was issued on Wednesday, July 4, following deadly attacks earlier this month on a Jewish synagogue, a Christian church, and a police checkpoint in this Muslim-majority republic. Armed men simultaneously targeted the synagogue, church, and police checkpoint in the capital city of Makhachkala and the city of Derbent on July 3, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals. Among the dead were 15 police officers and four civilians, including a priest from the Orthodox Christian church. The synagogue building was also severely damaged in a fire that broke out. One of the attackers attempted to escape using a mask, but security forces killed five assailants in the city of Derbent. Abdullah Salimov, the Mufti of Dagestan, the highest religious authority in Islam in the region, confirmed the ban on masks and burqas in a video message on his Telegram channel, urging Muslims to abandon the use of these garments to help ensure security. The death toll from the armed attacks in Dagestan has reached 20. Muhammad Muhammadov, the Mufti's assistant, stated that this ban is necessary for maintaining security and identifying individuals in streets, public places, and large gatherings. The majority of Dagestan's population is Sunni Muslim. This region has been the scene of Islamist insurgency for a decade, primarily from militants entering from Chechnya. The use of masks in Dagestan has become common since the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, according to Melikov, the governor of Dagestan, masks are not part of the traditional attire of the Caucasian people, allowing men to hide their identities and women to carry prohibited items, thus making face covering a "serious security threat." The Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus described wearing masks, burqas, and other face coverings as "harmful" and a threat to "interfaith and ethnic relations." The head of the Russian Investigative Committee, which is investigating the July 3 attacks, has called on lawmakers to immediately ban the use of masks throughout Russia. In some former Soviet republics and several European countries, wearing masks and burqas is prohibited. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the July 3 attacks in Dagestan. However, the head of the Russian Investigative Committee stated that "Islamic terrorists" were responsible. Law enforcement agencies in Russia told TASS news agency that the attackers were "followers of an international terrorist organization."