August 31, 2002	Saturday	Karachi, Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423

MOSCOW, Aug 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday backed a decision by a top court in Russia’s Volga region of Tatarstan to refuse Muslim women the right to cover their hair for passport photographs.

The supreme court in the mostly Muslim province this week denied Muslim women the right to be photographed in headscarves, in accordance with religious custom. Islamic religious law forbids women to show their hair to men outside their immediate family.

“Regarding documents, we have standards that apply to the entire country and all ethnic groups and we should stick to them,” Putin was quoted by Interfax as saying at the end of a two-day visit to Tatarstan.

He said a woman photographed with a head covering could have difficulties getting through Russia’s complex passport inspection system at the country’s borders.—Reuters