Copenhagen: Supporters and opponents of a ban on garments covering the face, including Islamic veils such as the niqab or burqa, clashed verbally on Wednesday as the law takes effect.
Marcus Knuth of the ruling liberal party Venstre, said the dress worn by some conservative Muslim women is “strongly oppressive”.
Sasha Andersen of the “Party Rebels” activist group, is planning a demonstration later in the day against what they called today a “discriminatory” measure against a minority group. Groups that back the ban also plan to rally.
Danish lawmakers approved the law in May, which was presented by the centre-right governing coalition that is known for tightening asylum and immigration rules in recent years.
In 2016, Denmark also adopted a law requiring newly arrived asylum-seekers to hand over valuables such as jewelry and gold to help pay for their stays in the country.