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Women
Denmark says no to burqa and niqab in public spaces

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 31 May 2018, 12:48 pm Print

Denmark says no to burqa and niqab in public spaces

Copenhagen: Denmark has become the latest European nation to pass a law that effectively bans certain face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, from August 1, reports said on Thursday.

A majority in the Danish Parliament has voted in favour of the law change.

Failing to follow the law- not to wear the burqa and niqab in public- will attract monetary fine.

For first time offenders, a monetary fine of 1,000 kroner (122.66 USD) would be levied, however, for repeat offence- fourth time onwards- it could swell up to 10,000 kroner for breaking the law.

The law was passed on Thursday after the bill received 75-30 votes in favour.

However, during the week long debate, the Danish government dropped prison timing as one among the punishments to be awarded to offenders.

Though France became the first European nation to ban the face veil in 2011, Danish political party, Danish People’s Party (DF), had debated the issue sometime in 2009.

"Parliament has clearly stated that the burqa and niqab do not belong in Denmark. They are incompatible with Danish culture and the foundations on which Denmark is built,” DF's spokesperson on immigration issues, Martin Henriksen, was quoted as saying by The Local.

When questioned if the country was meddling with individual rights by putting a restriction on a certain type of dress code, Henriksen said, "Of course, we have individual freedoms we must protect. But some people use them to promote an ideology that, if they are successful, will mean many more lose their freedoms."