Denmark joins European countries in ‘burqa ban’

The law, presented by the centre-right governing coalition, was passed 75-30 yesterday, with the Danish government saying it is not aimed at any religions.

It does not ban headscarves, nor the Jewish skull cap or Sikh turban.

Søren Pape Poulsen, the country’s justice minister, said it would be for police officers to use their common sense when deciding whether to arrest people once the law comes into effect next month.

The legislation makes exceptions, including for cold weather garments and motorcycle helmets.

The ban is similar to those passed in France, Belgium and Austria.

Violating the law carries a fine of 1,000, about £118 and repeated offenders may be fined up to 10,000 kroner or six months’ imprisonment.

Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International’s Europe director, said: “All women should be free to dress as they please and to wear clothing that expresses their identity or beliefs. This ban will have a particularly negative impact on Muslim women who choose to wear the niqab or burqa.

“While some specific restrictions on the wearing of full-face 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.

“If the intention of this law was to protect women’s rights, it fails abjectly. Instead, the law criminalises women for their choice of clothing and in so doing flies in the face of those freedoms Denmark purports to uphold.”