Denmark will ban burkas in schools and universities under plans to tackle ‘parallel

Denmark will ban burkas in schools and universities as part of a plan to tackle what it calls ‘parallel societies’.

The garment worn by some Muslim women is already banned in public places in the Scandinavian country, but the move would now expand the order into classrooms across Denmark. 

In Denmark, the term ‘parallel societies’ refers to residential areas where more than half of inhabitants are from an immigrant background. 

The ban on full-face coverings was introduced in Denmark in 2018, with those found to break the rule forced to pay a £1,300 fine. 

Despite Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s move to extend the ‘burka ban’ to schools and universities, critics have argued that the use of the face coverings are not widespread in classrooms. 

The government’s latest move was revealed by centre-Right newspaper Berlingske, citing a statement from the Danish immigration ministry.

‘The government will present a number of legislative proposals that were not adopted before the election,’ the statement said.

‘This includes, among other things, the bill on strengthened efforts against parallel societies and negative social control,’ it added, in reference to the burka ban policy.

Denmark has some of the toughest migration laws in Europe, which were introduced after its Left-leaning government, which came into power in 2019, promised to curb migration to ‘protect Danishness’. 

Denmark will ban burkas in schools and universities

In addition to introducing the famous ‘burka ban’, new rules came in compelling all newcomers and their children to learn Danish or lose asylum-seeker benefits.

Immigrants were also moved around the country to stop a ‘parallel’ foreign society growing up under a so-called ‘ghetto law’. 

Denmark’s border force also has powers to confiscate items such as jewellery and watches from incoming migrants to help fund the cost of their stay. 

Migrants who tire of Denmark and return home voluntarily are given a £4,500 sweetener to leave.

And if a migrant’s country of origin is deemed ‘safe’, such as Syria after last year’s fall of President Bashar al-Assad, even a successful asylum seeker can lose Danish residency and face being returned home.

Last month, the government also announced plans to ban the call to prayer in Denmark, as ministers complained that parts of the country felt like ‘a suburb of Islamabad’.