Dagestan temporarily bans niqab

Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan temporarily banned women from wearing the niqab full-face veil, Dagestan's Deputy Mufti Abdulla Salimov said.

In a statement posted on the Telegram messenger app, the Dagestan Muftiate said it was introducing a "temporary" ban on the niqab after an appeal from Russia's ministry of nationality policy and religious affairs.

The muftiate, a religious organisation representing Dagestani Muslims, said that the ban would remain in place "until the identified threats are eliminated and a new theological conclusion is reached".

The niqab is a style of veil that covers most of the face and body.