The first woman to be fined for wearing a veil in Denmark occurred on August 3rd, following the Government’s new legislation which prohibits certain face coverage. Danish news company Ritzau reported that the woman was fined 1,000 Danish Kroner ($155 USD) at the Horsholm shopping center near Copenhagen. According to this source, the Police were made aware of a woman wearing a Niqab after a brawl had broken out involving another woman attempting to remove her veil. After being fined, the 28-year-old woman was asked to either remove her Niqab or leave the premises, choosing to leave.

In relation to Denmark’s veil ban, Justice Minister Søren Pape Poulsen stated, “In terms of value, I see a discussion of what kind of society we should have with the roots and culture we have, that we don’t cover our face and eyes, we must be able to see each other and we must be able to see each other’s facial expressions, it’s a value in Denmark.” Human Rights Watch reported that the Justice Minister also stated that Islamic veils are “disrespectful” and “incompatible with Danish Values.” However, many contest this idea, claiming it is discriminatory and does not help liberate women forced to wear facial coverage. Human Rights Watch researcher Hillary Margolis argues, “Telling women how to dress doesn’t liberate them – it denies them the right to make their own choices.”

Denmark’s first fine based on its outlaw of full-face veils represents both religious and gender discrimination against Muslim women. Not only does it criminalize women’s religious clothing, but it also removes a female’s agency and one’s decision to wear a veil. Key claims that outlawing the veil will protect women’s rights are counterproductive and in fact, fuel both gender inequality and xenophobia. Human Rights Watch argues that the veil-ban will make part of Denmark’s female Muslim population further marginalized, by restricting them from public areas, including public transport, education, and employment. ABC news has also argued that the ban may force women to choose between their employment and religious customs, with the possibility of others making that choice for them. Women who continue to choose to wear the veil are also at risk of financial instability, as the fine for repeat offenders increases to 10,000 Kroner (approx. $1,196 USD). While Muslim women make up a minor percentage of Denmark’s population, the group will now experience an unfair punishment in the name of security and ‘true Danish values.’

Enforced over a week ago, the law banning certain veils was legislated by Denmark’s center-right Coalition. Al Jazeera reports that the bill passed parliament with a 75 to 30 vote favour, also backed by right-wing parties including The Danish People’s Party. While the law does not specifically mention veils, Human Rights Watch states that it targets items that fully cover the face, including fake beards and face masks. However, the full-face ban also includes the Burqa and Niqab veils specifically. Denmark has followed the surge of veil-bans across Europe, with countries including France and Austria upholding similar laws. After the law was enforced on the 1^st of August, women gathered in Copenhagen dressed in veils in protest of the legislation. However, Denmark’s first veil fine indicates that the government is not backing down.

Denmark’s first veil charge represents the commencement of a law built on discrimination. Not only will it marginalize Muslim women by criminalizing their clothing, but it will also restrict many from their basic liberties, including access to education and the workplace. Gender discriminatory and xenophobic legislation should not be tolerated, as it continues to marginalize population groups who should rather be celebrated for their diversity.