Denmark has become the latest country to ban the wearing of the Islamic full-face veil in public spaces after a bill was passed in Danish Parliament
“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.
The ruling, which is to commence on August 1, was also backed by the Social Democrats and the far-right Danish People’s Party.
A fine of 1,000 kroner ($156, 134 euros) will now be issued to anyone found Wearing a burqa, which is an Islamic head-dress which covers a person’s entire face, or the niqab, which only shows the eyes.
Repeat violations will lead to fine of 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.
The European Court of Human Rights last year upheld a Belgian ban on wearing it in public.
France was the first European country to ban the niqab in public places with a law that took effect in 2011.
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