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Denmark proposes ban on full face Islamic veils, says it’s incompatible with Danish values

The government of Denmark has proposed a ban on the full face Islamic veil as it is ‘incompatible with the Danish values.’

While proposing the ban Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said, “It’s disrespectful to the community to keep one’s face hidden when meeting each other in public spaces’.

He added: “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 proposal will be assessed by non-governmental human rights organisations and possibly rewritten to take their remarks into consideration.

The bill regarding the issue will be presented in the country’s parliament in spring. It is likely to be adopted as the government has the support of the country’s second largest party, Danish Poeple’s Party, which has an anti-immigration stance.

A violation of the ban would entail a fine of 1,000 kroner (£120). Repeated violations would lead to fines of 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,” Poulsen said.

 

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