Unveil ban on naqab

It has been reported in a section of press that Denmark has banned the full-face Islamic veils in public places by women. For violation of this controversial law, a 28-year old woman has been fined. The woman was asked to either remove her veil or leave the public place. The woman is said to have chosen the latter. As per the law, a woman wearing a burqa or the naqab will be fined1000 kroner ($156 or 134 euros). Repeated violations attract fine up to 10,000 kroner. The law has become controversial because there are two schools of thoughts. Human rights campaigners say that the ban on naqab is violation of women’s rights. Supporters say that it (the ban) enables

better integration of Muslim immigrants into Danish society. Belgium, France, Germany and Austria are understood to have imposed total bans or partial bans. The argument that the naqabless faces are helpful for integration of immigrants into society in whichever country it may be. That is one side. The other is, it is difficult to make out whether the women in veil do not have sinister designs like escaping after committing robbery or escaping after perpetrating terrorism on innocent people. Nobody was bothered about the Muslim women wearing veils before the terrorism started consuming the world. With terrorism and other criminal activities making much headway in the society and the nation as a whole, ban on naqab is not unwarranted. —K V Seetharamaiah