Denmark bans full-face veils in public

DENMARK has become the latest European country to ban the Islamic fullface veil in public spaces in a move criticised by human rights campaigners as “a violation of women’s rights”.

“Anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine,” says the law, which was passed by 75 votes to 30 in the Danish parliament.

Presented by the centre-right government, the legislation was also backed by the Social Democrats and the far-right Danish People’s Party. The new rule will take effect on August 1 and violation will lead to a fine of 1,000 kroner (£118).

The ban targets the burka and the niqab and other accessories that hide the face, such as balaclavas and false beards. Repeated violations will be fined up to 10,000 kroner.

Amnesty International condemned the law as a “discriminatory violation of women’s rights”, especially against Muslim women who choose to wear the full-face veils. “Whilst some specific restrictions on the wearing of fullface veils for the purposes of public safety may be legitimate, this blanket ban is neither necessary nor proportionate and violates the rights to freedom of expression and religion,” Gauri van Gulik, the organisation’s Europe director, said in a statement following the vote.

Supporters argue that the ban enables better integration of Muslim immigrants into Danish society, claiming the garment is used to oppress women.