VEIL FURY
Denmark burqa ban comes into force sparking mass protests with hundreds of veiled women taking to the streets
Hundreds of Muslim and non-Muslim Danes took to the streets of Copenhagen in outrage at the new legislation
HUNDREDS of people took to the streets of Copenhagen today to protest against Denmark’s new ban on full face veils.
Demonstrators of all ages and backgrounds rallied together to accuse the government of infringing on a woman’s right to dress as she wishes.
16
The ban was enacted by the Danish parliament in May, with the country following the likes of France and other EU nations where similar bans have been introduced.
The legislation came into effect in the Nordic country today.
Politicians have repeatedly argued that the ban is only in place to uphold the secular and democratic values of European nations.
Under the new law, police will be allowed to instruct women to remove their veils or order them to leave public areas.
16
16
16
16
Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said officers would fine them and tell them to go home.
Fines will range from 1,000 Danish crowns (£120) for a first offence to 10,000 crowns (£1,190) for a fourth.
HIJAB, NIQAB OR BURQA?
- There are many different types of veil - here are the most common styles
- HIJAB: This word is often used to describe the headscarves worn by Muslim women. The scarves come in many styles and colours. The style most commonly worn in the West covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.
- NIQAB: The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf.
- BURQA: The burka is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It is a one-piece veil that covers the face and body, often leaving just a mesh screen to see through.
16
16
16
16
16
Despite its generic wording, the legislation has been widely interpreted as discriminatory against Denmark's Muslims, with critics claiming it violates women's rights to freedom of expression and religion.
Muslims account for around 5 per cent of Denmark's 5.7 million population, and around 200 Muslim women in the country wear a type of Islamic veil.
The protesters, many of whom were wearing the niqab or the body-length burqa, began their march from the Danish capital's central district of Norrebro to Bellahoj police station on the outskirts of the Copenhagen.
Demonstrators, often with children in tow, also included non-niqab-wearing Muslim women and non-Muslim Danes with their faces covered.
Police have said that none of the veiled protesters will be penalised since as certain uses of face veils remain exempt from the law.
16
16
16
16
16
16
MOST READ IN NEWS
The mass protest was deemed peaceful and no incidents were reported.
Sabina, a 21-year-old niqab-wearing graduate said: “We need to send a signal to the government that we will not bow to discrimination and a law that specifically targets a religious minority.”
Fotis Filippou, deputy Europe director of human rights group Amnesty International, added: “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 making a mockery of the freedoms Denmark purports to uphold.”
Denmark becomes latest European country to ban the burka and niqab
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.