Denmark Bans the Burka
Denmark bans the burka joining France, Germany, Belgium, and Austria in it’s criminalization of full-face covers in public spaces. The move was voted on and passed 75 to 30, passing into law a measure which seeks to make the burka illegal without targeting any one-single religion.
In the interest of the optics of fairness, Denmark included face masks and fake moustaches, claiming the ban is not necessarily directed at the burka itself, rather it is an exercise in safety by outlawing the full covering of a person’s face in public spaces.
Amnesty International has publicly condemned the move, claiming the blanket outlawing of a religious symbol is problematic. In a statement the director of Amnesty International said, “Whilst 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,”
The fines for waring a burka in Denmark will be around $200 AUD for first time offenders, while repeat offenders could be charged over $1,000 AUD.
