The local unit of the Uttar Pradesh Jewellers Association has announced a ban on selling jewellery to customers who enter shops with their faces covered by a veil, burqa, mask or helmet, citing concerns related to safety and security. The decision was taken on Saturday after jewellers raised alarms over a rise in theft, robbery and fraud cases reported from several districts.
Association members said the move was prompted by repeated incidents in which criminals allegedly concealed their identities by covering their faces, making it difficult to identify them later. According to the jewellers, such cases have created fear among shop owners and staff, pushing them to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their businesses.
Kamal Singh, the district president of the Uttar Pradesh Jewellers Association, said that jewellers would no longer sell ornaments to customers whose faces remain covered inside shops. He explained that if a crime is committed by someone whose face is concealed, it becomes nearly impossible to establish their identity. To implement the decision, posters have been put up outside jewellery shops clearly stating that entry is prohibited for customers wearing masks, burqas, helmets or veils.
Singh emphasised that the step was taken purely for safety reasons and not with any intention to target a particular community. He said customers wearing a hijab or burqa are welcome, but they would be requested to uncover their face after entering the shop so that the jewellers can feel secure while conducting business.
Satya Narayan Seth, president of the state-level jewellers association, said similar notices have been displayed outside jewellery shops in several districts, including Jhansi. He added that jewellers across the state are facing similar challenges, particularly in cities like Varanasi, where there are thousands of jewellery outlets and frequent concerns over customers entering with covered faces.
Seth reiterated that the association is not opposing any religion or religious practice. According to him, the intention is only to ensure the safety of jewellers and their staff. He clarified that Muslim women can visit shops wearing burqas, but they should remove the face covering briefly to allow their identity to be verified.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from some within the jewellery community itself. Shahid, a jeweller from the Lohta area, said that refusing entry to customers wearing burqas is inappropriate and could hurt business. He argued that asking a woman to remove her burqa could be seen as disrespectful and may discourage customers from visiting the shop.
Shahid added that incidents of theft committed by women wearing burqas are rare and should not be used to justify a blanket restriction. He pointed out that if verification is required, a female employee in the shop could check the customer’s identity instead. He said it would be improper for a male employee to ask a woman to remove her burqa, as that would violate social and cultural norms.
Meanwhile, government advocate Rana Sanjeev Singh supported the jewellers’ decision, stating that it was not wrong for shop owners to prioritise their safety. He said there have been several recent cases reported on social media and in the news where women wearing burqas were caught stealing jewellery on CCTV cameras, but their identities could not be confirmed due to face coverings.
Singh concluded that every individual and business has the right to protect themselves from potential harm. From that perspective, he said, the jewellers’ decision was understandable and within their rights.
