A possible Dutch ban on Muslim women's head-to-toe garment has caught the interest of Denmark's integration minister

Copenhagen Post:

Integration Minister Rikke Hvilshøj is keeping her eye on developments in the Netherlands, where a government proposal to ban burkas, is being seriously considered.

The Dutch integration minister, Rita Verdonk, recently proposed a ban on wearing a Muslim women's head -to-toe garment in public places such as shops, cinemas, buses and train stations, airports, and on public transportation. Verdonk has proposed the ban in the interest of public safety.

The ban would be the first in the EU, and Hvilshøj feels that such a ban in Denmark would benefit integration here.

'When we're talking about integration, Denmark and the Netherlands face the same challenges,' said Hvilshøj. 'To start with, I will have a look at how they plan on doing it to see if we can learn something here in Denmark. It will require a lot of thought to implement such a ban. It's not something we can do as a spontaneous reaction.'

Government support party, the Danish People's Party, was quick to support the idea, saying that it would 'definitely' support such a proposal in Denmark.

Should a debate come up, the People's Party, Denmark's third most popular political party, has said that it would also again push for a ban on religious headwear in public places. This time, however, the party would ban only Muslim headwear, such has scarves and burkas.

Henriette Kjær, integration issues spokesman for governing coalition partner the Conservatives, questioned whether such a ban was legal, however.

Women in burkas face benefit cuts

Denmark: Imam offers blood money to family of murdered man

“Women who go to hairdressers will go to hell”