Today, Tuesday, 6th of February 2018, the Danish government finally came with their long awaited proposal for the so-called Burka Ban. In order to circumvent the constituton, the ban will also include other coverings of the face, such as e.g. false beards. Wearing niqab will be fined with 10,000 DKK (1500 Euro). Following is a translation of selected parts of an interview with the Danish Minister of Justice, and we will leave it at that, since hypocrisy is in some cases needs no clarification.
Comment:
Q: In a bourgeois freedom loving party, how can it be that you are not in favor of people dressing as they please?
A: At the same time as we are freedom loving, we also love freedom for all people. We have some values that bind us together. Here I do not mean you can run around and be covered. Then you are not a part of society.
Q: Why not call it what it is: a Burka Ban?
A: It shall target people with burka and niqab, like it shall target people with ski masks.
Q: Is it meant to primarily target people with religious clothing that you do not like?
A: Now it is just the case that you cannot, according to the constitution, make such a proposal. Now we make a proposal that not only covers that…
Q: So you circumvent the constitution to achieve a goal?
A: I want for us to be able to look into each other’s’ eyes and see our facial expressions in this society, so it is about us not wearing burka, niqab or ski mask.
Q: Is it not an attempt to go around the constitution because it does not allow what you want?
A: It is an attempt to make a ban against one running around and hiding and covering the face.
Q: How many women do you think wear burka or niqab today, and will take it off because of this?
A: I have no idea. It also does not matter. Law is law, and law shall be upheld. No matter how many.
Q: Is it few you think?
A: I do not know how many who wears a burka, but I do not think they are many.
Q: If they are not many who wear a burka, is not it then merely a symbolic law?
A: To me it is value policy. Is it also symbolic policy? Yes, symbols are very important in a society.
Junes Kock