Burqa

Women with a burqa and a child, in Afghanistan

A woman with a burqa, with man and child, in Northern Afghanistan

A Burqa is a piece of clothing. It is worn by some Muslim women. They can wear it as an outer garment. It only leaves a semi-transparent mesh in front of the woman's eyes, so she can see. The rest of the body is covered by it.

Other garments for Muslim women that cover less of their body are the hijab and the niqab. People often confuse the hijab and the niqab and call it burqa instead.

In Islamic texts

The Quran does not say that women need to cover their faces with a veil, or cover their bodies with the full-body burqa.

Burqas around the world

Full-face veil ban in the world as of 2025:      Full-face veils (like the burqa and niqab) are totally banned in public.     Full-face veils are banned in some localities.     Ban on sale and manufacturing of full-face veils.     Full-face veils are banned in public buildings, public transport and while driving a vehicle.

Full-face veils ban in Europe as of 2025:
     Full-face veils (like the burqa and niqab) are totally banned in public.      Full-face veils are banned in some localities.      Full-face veils are banned in public buildings, public transport and while driving a vehicle.

In France, Italy, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Latvia, Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Tunisia, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands wearing a burqa (and the niqab) in public is illegal. And in more countries, it is illegal to enter a government building, public building, public transport, schools, or to drive a vehicle with a burqa (or a niqab).

Burqa Media

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  Women wearing Burqa in Afghanistan

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  Pre-Islamic relief showing veiled Middle Eastern women, Temple of Baal, Palmyra, Syria, 1st century AD (in Iran)

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  Coptic Orthodox Christian woman wearing a garment with a Christian head covering (1918)

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  A painting of burqa-clad Afghan women in Kabul, 1840

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  Chadaree in Afghanistan

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  Local Afghan women wearing burqas on a street in 2009

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  Women wearing burqas of different colors in Afghanistan in 1975

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  Muslim and Hindu women stand in a queue to cast their votes in Muzaffarnagar.

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  A member of the Haredi burqa sect in Meah Shearim, Israel