Denmark: Parliament passes ban on full-face veils in public

Event

On Thursday, May 31, the Danish parliament passed a new law that bans the wearing of any garment that hides a person’s face in public. The law was approved by a 75-30 vote and includes full-face veils such as the niqab, balaclavas, face-covering ski masks, face masks, and fake beards. Individuals violating the ban will face a fine of USD 157 (EUR 134/DKK 1000) and repeat offenders may receive higher fines and possible jail sentences. The ban is slated to come into effect on August 1.

Context

International human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, claim that the ban is discriminatory vis-à-vis women’s rights, particularly against Muslim women who chose to wear full-face veils. It is unclear how many women wear the niqab or burqa in Denmark.

Advice

Individuals in Denmark are advised to adhere to all local regulations.