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19:20, 31-May-2018
Denmark, latest European country to ban Islamic full-face veil in public places
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Denmark on Thursday became the latest European country to ban the Islamic full-face veil in public.
"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 center-right government, the legislation was also backed by the Social Democrats and the far-right Danish People's Party.
Women in niqab are pictured after the Danish Parliament banned the wearning of face veils in public, at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 31, 2018. /Reuters Photo
Women in niqab are pictured after the Danish Parliament banned the wearning of face veils in public, at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, May 31, 2018. /Reuters Photo
The new rule will take effect on August 1. Wearing a burqa, which covers a person's entire face, or the niqab, which only shows the eyes, in public will lead to a fine of 1,000 kroner (156 US dollars, 134 euros).
The ban also targets other accessories that hide the face such as balaclavas and false beards. Repeated violations will be fined up to 10,000 kroner.
It is not known how many women wear the niqab and burqa in Denmark.
"I don't think there are many who wear the burqa here in Denmark. But if you do, you should be punished with a fine," Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen was quoted as saying by Ritzau news agency in February.
France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and the German state of Bavaria have all imposed some restrictions on full-face veils in public places.
Source(s): AFP
,Reuters