Denmark bans wearing of face veils in public

A woman wearing full burqa. Copyright Getty Images.

Denmark has banned the wearing of face veils in public, joining France and other parts of Europe in outlawing the burqa and the niqab worn by some Muslim women. 

Parliament voted on Thursday for the law proposed by the centre-right government which said face veils were contrary to Danish values. Opponents say the ban, that comes into effect on Aug, 1 infringes women’s right to dress as they choose.

Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen said police would not order offenders to remove their veils, but would fine them and tell them to go home.  

Fines will range from 1,000 Danish crowns ($160) for a first offence to 10,000 crowns for the fourth violation.

France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and the German state of Bavaria have all imposed some restrictions on full-face veils in public places.

Justice Minister Pape Poulsen, head of the conservative party in a government backed by the nationalist Danish People’s Party, said when the bill was proposed in February: “It is incompatible with the values ​​of the Danish society or the respect for the community to keep the face hidden when meeting each other in the public space.”

Zainab Ibn Hssain, who lives in Copenhagen and has been wearing the niqab for the last year, told Reuters: “It’s not nice. It will mean that I won’t be able to go to school, go to work or go out with my family.

“But I won’t take my niqab off so I have to find another solution,” the 20 year-old added. 

Human rights group Amnesty International called the ban “a discriminatory violation of women’s rights”.

“All women should be free to dress as they please and to wear clothing that expresses their identity or beliefs,” it said.

Reuters

Read More

Brave civilians foil suicide bomb attack; tons of worshipers escaped death

Authorities of Operation Lafiya Dole disclosed on Sunday that many Muslim worshippers partaking in early morning prayers were saved instant death when a female suicide bomber penetrated the prayer session but was prevented from detonating the suicide vests strapped to her body.

According to Lafiya Dole, “What would have otherwise been a devastating suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Gashua village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state has been successfully foiled today (Sunday) by vigilant members of the community.


“A female Boko Haram suicide bomber had infiltrated the mosque, while members were about to commence a prayer session but was detected when struggling to detonate a suicide vest strapped to her body. The statement signed by Col Onyeama Nwachukwu, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations said, “She was quickly restrained by the locals, arrested and handed over to troops at Azare. “Members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Component of Operation Lafiya Dole at the location have safely defused the suicide vest. “The suicide bomber is currently receiving medical attention due to injuries sustained during her arrest.”

This is serious and good; she is being denied the death she dearly craves.

Read More