Denmark – First ‘Burqa-ban’ Fine Issued After Scuffle In Copenhagen Shopping Centre (Video)

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Tensions are rising in the otherwise peaceful Scandinavian nation of Denmark after police issued a first ‘burqa-ban’ fine when a woman refused to take off her niqab in a Copenhagen shopping centre.

Police explained that they were called in after another woman told the strictly Islamic 28-year-old female who was walking in the Horsholm shopping centre, just north of the capital Copenhagen, to remove it as per the law that went into effect on 1 August and then tried to take it off her as she refused. The two women got into a fight on an escalator.

Related coverage: <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/31518-Denmark-Liberal-Scandinavian-Nation-Slashes-Benefits-For-Migrants-Who-Don-t-Integrate#31521">Liberal Scandinavian nation slashes benefits for migrants who don’t integrate</a>.

Police spokesperson Mr David Borchersen admitted there was a scuffle between the two and that they have reviewed CCTV footage of the incident.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In accordance with the law, the 28-year-old was asked by police to either remove her veil or leave the public space. She chose the latter and was fined €134.<a href="https://t.co/M32DZyA3tW">https://t.co/M32DZyA3tW</a></p>&mdash; dwnews (@dwnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/dwnews/status/1025678982556004359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Mr Borchersen: "During the fight her niqab came off, but by the time we arrived she had put it back on again."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Muslim and non-Muslim demonstrators protest Denmark’s burqa ban in Copenhagen<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Burqaban?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Burqaban</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Muslim?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Muslim</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Islam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Islam</a> <a href="https://t.co/CJfPfJ3myn">pic.twitter.com/CJfPfJ3myn</a></p>&mdash; Press TV (@PressTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressTV/status/1024978886705262592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The Muslim woman was handed a fine of $155 after police told her to take of the veil, which she still refused. As per the new law, repeat offenders can face as much as $1,200 in fines and be restricted of their child support monies.

The other woman was charged with ‘disturbing the peace.’

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Critics of Denmark’s so called ‘Burqa ban’ have marched through the streets of Copenhagen on day one of the new law. <a href="https://t.co/XHdpMfGH2t">https://t.co/XHdpMfGH2t</a> <a href="https://t.co/IHCjUGWwVS">pic.twitter.com/IHCjUGWwVS</a></p>&mdash; SBS News (@SBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews/status/1024771138444963840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Earlier this week, when the ban went into effect, protesters had gathered in the capital, with many women wearing traditional veils and burqas alongside progressive young females in makeshift coverings.

The new law, which is similar to the ones already in place in other European countries like France, Belgium, Bulgaria and Austria, has been met with protests and criticism from human rights groups.

Although it does not mention burkas and niqabs by name, it states that "anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine"

Related coverage: <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/27636-Denmark-Parliament-Passes-Burqa-Ban-Fines-Up-to-1-500">Danish parliament passes Burqa ban</a>.

As we informed you (see our related coverage), Denmark (as well as other Scandinavian nations) have seen a serious swing to the right as many fear the rapidly growing immigrant population and the loss of their cultural identity. Nationalist parties are on the rise in Norway, Sweden and Finland as well.

Source:

https://www.dw.com/de/geldstrafe-wegen-nikab-tragens-in-d%C3%A4nemark-verh%C3%A4ngt/a-44951997