Denmark plans to extend ban on full-face veils to educational institutions

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that her government intends to broaden the existing ban on full-face Islamic veils, such as the burqa and niqab, to include schools and universities.

This move seeks to reinforce Denmark’s stance on integration and secularism within public spaces, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Currently, the 2018 legislation prohibits the wearing of full-face veils in public places, subjecting violators to fines. The proposed extension aims to close loopholes by encompassing educational institutions, where such attire has remained permitted.

Frederiksen also expressed her desire to see prayer rooms removed from universities, though she stopped short of advocating an outright ban. She conveyed her concerns that these spaces could serve as centers for “social control and oppression.”

“God has to step aside. You have the right to your faith and to practice your religion but democracy takes precedence,” Frederiksen told the Danish media, emphasizing the primacy of democratic values over religious practices within public institutions.

The prime minister further elaborated on the rationale behind targeting prayer rooms, asserting, “It’s not a discussion about whether we want them or not. We are actively taking a position that we don’t want them because they are used as a mechanism of oppression against girls and potentially boys as well.”

While acknowledging uncertainty regarding the prevalence of the issue, she stressed the importance of addressing it regardless of scale: “For me, it’s not just the scale that matters. I’m the prime minister of Denmark. I’m also a woman. And I can’t tolerate the oppression of women.”

By Vafa Guliyeva