EU state's PM calls for clampdown on Islam
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called for new restrictions on Islamic practices in the country, citing concerns about religious pressure and the oppression of women.
The EU nation outlawed full-face veils in public spaces in 2018, but the ban did not extend to schools or other educational institutions.
On Thursday, Frederiksen reportedly told local news agency Ritzau that the exemption was a mistake, calling for the existing ban to be extended to classrooms and universities.
'There are gaps in the legislation that allow Muslim social control and oppression of women at educational institutions in Denmark,' she said.
The Danish prime minister added she would call for prayer rooms to be removed from schools and universities.
'You have the right to be a person of faith and practice your religion, but democracy takes precedence,' she said. 'When you're at school, you're there to be at school to get your education.'
Frederiksen argued that prayer rooms may create inclusiveness in theory, but in practice 'provide a breeding ground for discrimination and pressure.' Education ministers would be tasked with coordinating with universities to ensure prayer rooms are removed from academic programs, she said.
The 2018 veil ban, which includes the Islamic niqab (a face veil that leaves a slit for the eyes) and the burqa (a full body covering with mesh around the eyes), carries a fine of 1,000 kroner ($154) for a first offense, rising to 10,000 kroner for repeat violations. Amnesty International has described the ban as a 'discriminatory violation of women's rights.'
Frederiksen's comments follow recommendations by the Commission for the Forgotten Women's Struggle, which earlier this year urged the government to extend the veil ban to educational institutions. The same commission proposed banning hijabs in primary schools in 2022, but that plan was dropped in 2023 after public protests.
Bans on face coverings have become more widespread across the EU, with France having introduced the first such measure in 2011. Similar full or partial bans have since been enforced in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, parts of Germany, and several regions in Italy and Spain.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU to gamble with Russia's frozen assets
The European Union is looking to channel billions of euros in profits from frozen Russian assets into 'riskier investments' to boost funding for Ukraine, Politico has reported, citing sources. Officials reportedly view the move as a way to generate higher returns without directly tapping into the sovereign funds themselves, which would be in breach of international law. The proposal is part of a broader EU initiative to use profits from immobilized Russian assets – primarily Western government bonds held by the Brussels-based clearing house Euroclear – to support Ukraine's war effort. Moscow has labeled the seizure of its assets as 'theft.' Western nations froze an estimated $300 billion in Russian sovereign funds following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022. Of that amount, more than $200 billion is held by Euroclear. The funds have generated billions in interest, with €1.55 billion ($1.78 billion) transferred to Kiev last July to back a $50 billion G7 the new plan, the assets would be placed into an EU-managed investment fund that could pursue higher-yield strategies, officials told Politico on Thursday. The goal is to increase returns without resorting to outright confiscation – a step opposed by countries such as Germany and Italy due to the potential legal and financial consequences. The EU's $21 billion contribution to the G7 loan is expected to be fully disbursed by the end of this year. With future US aid uncertain and the bloc's own budget under pressure, officials are exploring alternative ways to keep Ukraine's economy afloat beyond 2025, Politico reported. EU policymakers hope the plan will allow them to extract more revenue from the assets without violating international legal norms. The International Monetary Fund has warned that outright seizure could damage global trust in Western financial institutions. Talks among member states over confiscation have dragged on for more than three years without resolution. Brussels also reportedly sees the new investment structure as a safeguard in case Hungary vetoes the renewal of sanctions – a move that could result in the assets being returned to Russia. EU sanctions must be unanimously extended every six months, and Budapest has repeatedly threatened to block them, citing national interests. Critics caution that riskier investments could result in losses ultimately borne by EU taxpayers, the outlet has condemned the asset freeze and has threatened countermeasures, including legal action.
Russia Today
12 hours ago
- Russia Today
Indian deposits in Swiss banks increase threefold in 2024
Indian deposits in Swiss banks rose threefold year-on-year in 2024, to about $3.78 billion, the PTI news agency reported, citing data from the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The current total in the European tax haven is the highest since 2021, when Indian deposits in Swiss banks reached a 14-year high of $4.13 billion, according to SNB data. Indian politicians have long claimed that Swiss banks hold unaccounted or 'black money,' believed to be proceeds from corruption. The Swiss authorities, however, have consistently stated that the assets held by Indians in Switzerland should not be automatically assumed to be illegal. Bern has previously committed to cooperating with New Delhi to combat tax evasion and fraud. Switzerland and India signed a joint declaration on the introduction of automatic exchange of information on tax matters in 2016. Under this agreement, Switzerland provides India with detailed financial information on Indian residents who hold accounts with Swiss financial institutions. The exchange, the first of which took place in 2019, is annual. The Swiss authorities have reportedly shared information about hundreds of Indian account holders suspected of financial misconduct, in response to India submitting evidence to support the claims. Switzerland has long been considered a tax haven due to its low taxes and stringent privacy laws. The UK topped the list of Swiss bank deposit owners in 2024, while India was in 48th place, up from 67th at the end of 2023, the PTI report added.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Nazi symbols prevalent in Ukrainian military
Ukrainian soldiers continue to publicly display neo-Nazi symbols – including swastikas, SS tattoos, and Nazi salutes – according to an investigation by French outlet Le Monde. In its report, published on Wednesday, Le Monde identified nearly 350 Ukrainian troops posting neo-Nazi imagery online, including Nazi salutes, swastika tattoos, Black Sun emblems, and Totenkopf insignias. According to the research, at least 200 of those identified serve in Kiev's 3rd Assault Brigade. Russia has repeatedly accused Kiev of fostering neo-Nazi ideology and glorifying WW2-era Hitler collaborators and has demanded the 'denazification' of Ukraine as part of a negotiated peace agreement. Formed in 2023, the 3rd Assault Brigade is a direct successor of the Azov Regiment – originally created in 2014 by far-right figure, Andrei Biletsky. Azov has been accused by multiple human rights groups, as well as the UN, of war crimes and torture and has been widely criticized for its use of symbols tied to the Waffen-SS. According to Le Monde, the 3rd Assault Brigade has received military training from several NATO countries, including France, Spain, Germany, the UK and Canada, who have also poured in billions in military support to Ukraine. The paper noted that some soldiers sent to France in 2023 bore visible SS tattoos. When questioned, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that it was the responsibility of Ukraine to vet the personnel. The report also stated that a number of foreign volunteers who have joined Ukraine's forces, including French nationals, have affiliations with far-right groups. Some were shown posting Nazi tributes and displaying related tattoos online. Le Monde further stated that the 3rd Assault Brigade, now expanded into a full corps under Biletsky's command, has been playing an increasingly central role in Ukraine's military. The outlet reported that its units continue to use Nazi-associated emblems and feature commanders with visible far-right markings. Moscow has long condemned Kiev's elevation of Nazi collaborators to national hero status and has accused Western governments of deliberately ignoring continued neo-Nazi activity in Ukrainian ranks. In April, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stressed that the rebirth of Nazism cannot be allowed and outlined the destruction of the 'Kiev neo-Nazi regime' as a necessary outcome of the Ukraine conflict. He insisted that 'a real de-Nazification is required' and that the ideology 'needs to be rooted out not only in Ukraine, but in all of Europe.'
