Demark`s Premier demands clampdown on Islam

(MENAFN) Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called for stricter regulations on Islamic practices within educational institutions, citing concerns over religious coercion and the suppression of women's rights.

While Denmark implemented a public ban on full-face Islamic veils in 2018, the law did not cover schools and universities. Speaking to the Ritzau news agency on Thursday, Frederiksen said this omission was an oversight and expressed her intention to extend the veil ban to all educational settings.

“There are loopholes in the current legislation that enable religious control and female oppression at Denmark’s schools and universities,” Frederiksen stated. She also advocated for the removal of prayer rooms from educational institutions, asserting that while individuals are free to practice their religion, democratic values must come first. “When you’re in school, your focus should be on education,” she added.

The prime minister claimed that, in practice, prayer rooms may foster exclusion and societal pressure rather than inclusion. She directed education ministers to work with universities to eliminate these spaces from academic environments.

The initial veil ban includes face coverings such as the niqab and burqa and imposes fines starting at 1,000 kroner ($154), increasing to 10,000 kroner for repeated offenses. The measure has faced criticism from human rights organizations like Amnesty International, which has labeled it discriminatory against women.

Frederiksen’s remarks align with the recommendations of the Commission for the Forgotten Women’s Struggle, which earlier this year proposed extending the veil ban to educational institutions. A 2022 proposal to ban hijabs in primary schools was later withdrawn in 2023 following public opposition.

Similar bans on Islamic face coverings have been adopted by several other EU countries, including France, Belgium, Austria, and parts of Germany, Italy, and Spain.

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