(Copenhagen) The Danish government on Tuesday proposed a ban on Islamic full-face veils such as the niqab and burqa in public spaces, making it likely to become the next European country to restrict the wearing of the religious garment. Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said in a statement:
"It is incompatible with the values in Danish society and disrespectful to the community to keep one's face hidden when meeting each other in public spaces, …with a ban on covering the face, we are drawing a line in the sand and underlining that in Denmark we show each other trust and respect by meeting face to face"
The centre-right government is expected to present a bill to
parliament in the spring, with the support of the country's second largest
party, the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, the proposed legislation is
likely to be adopted. Any violation of the ban would lead to a fine of 1,000
kroner ($166, 134 euros). Repeated violations would be fined up to 10,000
kroner.
