Bulgaria bans Islamic veil

     Sofia – The Bulgarian Parliament joined a growing number of other EU countries in banning the burqa in public. The law specifically bans the wearing in public clothing that partially or completely covers the face referring to the burqa or the more common niqab. Punishment for wearing it in public will be a fine of 200 leva (103 euros), rising to 1,500 leva for repeat offences. Bulgaria does have a centuries-old Muslim community dating back to the Ottoman occupation but for the most part they generally wear just a simple scarf to cover their hair. With all the illegal refugees pouring into Europe Bulgaria has started to see more and more Muslims wearing the burqa. Some towns had already enacted local legislation prohibiting its wearing but the central government felt it was time to enact a nationwide ban. The Turkish minority opposition party MDL voted against the ban. Left wing groups like Amnesty International have criticized the ban.

     Elsewhere in Europe a recent poll has shown Britons are strongly in favour of banning the burqa. France and Belgium have both banned the burqa or niqab and Switzerland's lower house this week narrowly approved a draft bill on a nationwide ban. In August Germany's interior minister came out in favour of a partial ban. A poll published earlier this month showed Britons to be strongly in favour of a burqa ban.