Source: Balkan Insight
Bulgarian MPs on Friday banned the wearing of veils that cover the face – a bill proposed earlier this year by the nationalistic coalition, Patriotic Front. The so-called “burqa ban” was passed on a second reading with overwhelming support.
In a sign of ethnic tension over the issue, MPs from the ethnic-Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, MRF, left the plenary session, calling the bill “anti-democratic” and “islamophobic”. They wanted the vote dropped from the parliamentary agenda.
Under the new law, wearing garments or masks that cover the face in public will be fined with 200 leva, around 100 euros, for a first offence and with 1,500 leva, around 750 euros, for any subsequent violation.
Offenders who are public servants will be fined 500 leva, around 250 euros, for the first violation and 2,000 leva, around 1,000 euros, in case of subsequent ones.
Suggested Reading
Ban the Burqa, Not the Burkini
The Muslim Times has a very extensive collection on the subject of Hijab and modest dressing
Categories: Europe, Europe and Australia, European Union, Hijab