In Denmark it shall apply from 1. August, a veiling ban for the face in Public. Other European countries have similar rules for many years. An Overview
The so-called veiling bans are mostly related generally to clothing, the the face of strong hide, so masks or certain helmets. Primarily they are against the Wearing of a religious veil of the dress, such as niqab or burqa. Therefore, a veiling ban, often as a burqa is called prohibition.
The burqa is a full body veil in which the eyes are usually behind a sort of lattice concealed. The niqab is a face veil in which the eyes are not covered.
Below is a list of European countries with cloaking prohibited:
Pioneer France
France has prohibited the first European country the public Wearing of the Burka and Nikab. The ban is in place since April 2011. To avoid any allegations of discrimination arise, the text of the law aware of do not explicitly religious veil, and was therefore formulated open: “no one is allowed to carry in public space, a piece of clothing, the cover to service the face.” In schools, the Wearing of which is prohibited in addition, since 2004, of any religious clothing, including Wearing a headscarf. By the way, are affected by the burqa – and niqab-ban in France, according to estimates, only around 2,000 women, because of the five million Muslims in the country, about 2,000 women niqab or burqa.
Shortly thereafter: Belgium
Since July 2011, the prohibition to conceal the face in Public also applies in Belgium. It must be subject to fines or imprisonment for a count of up to seven days. Similar to how in France, the ban applies to a small number of people. According to estimates, there are in Belgium, around 300 burqa – or niqab-wearers – in-a-Million Muslims in the country.
In Denmark, soon to be prohibited: in public in full concealment
The Netherlands with limited ban
In the Netherlands, the Parliament has prohibited the veiling of 2016. Since then, the full-body veil and are forbidden to veil, but in the entire country, but only in government buildings, in public transport and in schools and hospitals. In the case of infringement, a monetary penalty of up to 400 euros. As in France and Belgium, also, is the number of burqa – and niqab-wearers, is quite low. The government estimates that there are around 100.
Bulgaria with exceptions
Such as the Netherlands, Bulgaria has introduced the veiling ban in 2016. Here, too, there is the case of non-compliance fines, which can be up to 750 euros higher. And here, too, it is not everywhere. So there are exceptions for sports, work and prayer houses.
AGesVG in Austria
Austria bans the face covering since October in 2017, with the AGesVG, so the slightly boxy abbreviation for “Anti-face-veiling law”. According to the law, the facial features from the chin to the hairline must be in the Public eye. If not, it faces a fine of up to 150 euros.
New: Denmark
Since 1. August 2018 is banned the Full face veil in Denmark. At the end of may 2018, the Danish Parliament had brought in with 75 Yes votes to 30 votes against the bill on the way. It must reckon with fines of up to the equivalent of 135 euros, in the case of repetition can increase the fine by tenfold.
Discussions in other countries
In many European countries, there was or there is discussion of a veiling ban, including Germany, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. In Spain, there were local concealment prohibitions in Parts of Catalonia, which have picked up the dishes again. In Italy there is no discussion of a ban on the Full face veil, because there are already since the 1970s, a General prohibition to wear clothing which makes identification difficult.