The European country of Denmark is now set to ban burqas, niqabs, and other face coverings in schools and universities. Face coverings are already prohibited in public places in Denmark, and now the ban is being extended to educational institutions. In a statement, the country’s Immigration and Integration Minister, Rasmus Stoklund, said, “Burqas, niqabs, or clothing that hides people’s faces have no place in Danish classrooms.” News agency AFP quoted Stoklund as saying that the ban on face coverings in public places is already in effect and should certainly apply to educational institutions as well.
The Danish government completely banned face coverings in public places in August 2018, including Islamic garments such as the burqa and niqab. Violators of this rule were subject to fines. Now, there are plans to extend this ban. According to reports, a bill to extend the ban on full-face coverings will be introduced in the Danish Parliament in February 2026.
Danish PM takes a tough stance on face coverings
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in June that she wanted to extend the ban on face coverings to educational institutions. She also spoke about removing prayer rooms from educational premises. Frederiksen said that her government’s limited ban on full-face coverings in the country was a mistake.
A Euro News report stated that Frederiksen had previously said that there were loopholes in the law that allowed for Muslim social control and the oppression of women in Danish educational institutions. You have the right to be religious and practice your religion, but democracy comes first.
Supporters of the face-covering ban say that the rule helps Muslims from immigrant backgrounds integrate better into the predominantly Christian Danish society.
This country has also imposed a headscarf ban.
Recently, another European country, Austria, adopted a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14, which was passed by the country’s parliament on December 11.