Moscow, May 2 -- In a significant development, the Russian government has allowed women the right to wear a headscarf or hijab in their passport photographs, the Russian Interior Ministry said.

This law will be effective from Sunday, May 5, and aims to uphold religious beliefs while maintaining national security.

The new law allows photos of individuals wearing head coverings as long as they don't cover their face too much, but excludes photos with chin coverage, Russia Today reported.

The change pertains to various documents such as passport applications, driver's licenses, work permits, and patents.

Biysultan Khamzaev, a member of the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee, told the Russian Parliamentary Gazette, that the...