The leader of Denmark wants stricter measures to ban burqas in the country's schools and universities.

By Jon King, News Reporter

16:46, Thu, Jun 5, 2025 | UPDATED: 16:49, Thu, Jun 5, 2025

A Muslim woman wearing a burqa shops in Whitechapel, London

Denmark's prime minister wants to extend a burqa ban to schools and universities (Image: Getty)

Denmark's prime minister has called for the country's "burqa ban" to be rolled out to schools and universities. Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday, June 5 that stricter measures were required to limit religious symbols and rituals in education. Burqas and niqabs were banned from public places in 2018, but the measure didn't apply to schools and universities.

Ms Frederiksen, who leads the Social Democrats party, told Danish media: "There are gaps in the legislation that allow Muslim social control and oppression of women at educational institutions in Denmark. You have the right to be a person of faith and practice your religion, but democracy takes precedence."

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Amnesty International has said previously that the ban infringes on a woman's right to choose how she dresses. The human right group said in 2018: "All women should be free to dress as they please and to wear clothing that expresses their identity or beliefs."

The Danish leader is also calling for prayer rooms to be removed from educational settings, according to Euronews. She said Danish society can't allow itself to be ruled by religious conservatism. She said: "You're welcome to have your religion, but when you're at school, you're there to be at school and take part in your education."

Denmark is one of several European countries to introduce a ban. In 2010, Nicolas Sarkozy, the then-French president, introduced a ban in France. Anyone found wearing the covering in a public space can face a fine of £125 (150 euros). It has since been unsuccessfully challenged in the European courts.

Belgium brought in a similar ban a year later. Austria has similar restrictions. Switzerland was the latest European country to introduce a prohibition, which started on January 1 this year.

News of the bid to extend Denmark's ban comes amid debate in the UK as to whether a ban on the face-covering should be introduced.

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Newly-elected Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burqa during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, June 4.

She said: "Given the Prime Minister's desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?"

Her question triggered disquiet in the Commons and prompted cries of "shame" from MPs. The Prime Minister didn't answer Ms Pochin's question. Instead he used the opportunity to attack Reform's economic plans announced by party leader Nigel Farage last week.

Sir Keir said: "Can I welcome her to her place, but I'm not going to follow her down that line. But now she is here and safely in her place, perhaps she could tell her new party leader that his latest plan to bet £80 billion of unfunded tax cuts, with no idea how he's going to pay for it, is Liz Truss all over again.

"Although considering I think (Ms Pochin) was a Conservative member when Liz Truss was leader, she probably won't."