According to Novi Zhukovsky in The New York Sun, European nations are increasingly banning burqas and hijabs to maintain “security concerns, social cohesion, and women’s rights.” She writes:

A growing number of European countries are moving to ban face-covering Islamic garments in public spaces, with Sweden poised to be the next government to reject immigrant traditions they view as incompatible with European liberal values.

Sweden would join Denmark, France, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland, all of which have enacted similar legislation in recent years. These countries have variously cited security concerns, social cohesion, and women’s rights as justifications for their bans.

Italy is also on track to impose a similar ban. Last week, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni introduced legislation prohibiting face-covering garments in public spaces, including shops, schools, and workplaces. Violators could face fines ranging from 300 to 3,000 euros, or the equivalent of $350 to $3,500. Ms. Meloni and her right-wing Brothers of Italy party framed the bill as countering “Islamic separatism” within the country.

Sweden’s deputy prime minister, Ebba Busch, is calling for a comprehensive prohibition on face-covering garments in public areas, declaring that the government must act “while we can.”

The Christian Democrats party leader announced her position in an interview with a Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, arguing that face-to-face interaction is fundamental to Swedish society. Ms. Busch characterized the burqa — which fully covers both body and face — and the niqab — which leaves only the eyes visible — as incompatible with core Swedish principles.

“You are very welcome to be a Muslim in Sweden, but not in the way that Islam is practiced in Iran and Afghanistan,” Ms. Busch stated. “I don’t want to bring more totalitarian Islamists here. They are not welcome here in the future and you have to adapt if you are already in the country.”

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