Women in niqab Christiansborg Palace

    

Danish lawmakers have voted in favor of a law prohibiting the wearing of full face veils, such as the niqab or burqa, in public. A repeat offender won’t face prison as proposed, but could receive a $1,600 fine.

The majority of Danish MPs (75 against 30, with more than 74 absentees) adopted the law commonly referred to as the ‘burqa ban’ on Thursday after weeks-long negotiations. Thus the country joined other European countries, which have already introduced similar restrictions, including Austria, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands.

“It’s a good day for Denmark,” one of the parties that introduced the law, right-wing Dansk Folkeparti (The Danish People’s Party (DPP) wrote on a Facebook page announcing the measure.

The ban comes into force from August 1. Those who violate the law for the first time will be punished with 1,000 kroner (around $160) fine. If caught at least four times, they would have to pay up to 10,000 kroner ($1,600).

The DDP proposed even harsher punishment for offenders and suggested a jail sentence for breaking the new law, but the amendment failed to draw support among the lawmakers, the Local reports.