Muslims in EuropeLatvia bans wearing Islamic full-face veils in public

There are only three women living in Latvia who wear the Islamic full-face veil in public, but the Latvian government has decided to ban the practice anyway.

The government says the new legislation is necessary to protect Latvian culture and prevent terrorists from smuggling weapons under garments.

The Daily Mail reports that the move follows a similar ban on full-face veils in public spaces implemented by France in 2011.

Latvia’s Justice Minister Dzintars Rasnacs said the law – which he hopes will come into place by 2017 – has nothing to do with the number of women wearing the traditional niqab, but rather with ensuring that immigrants respect the country’s values.

“A legislator’s task is to adopt preventative measures,” Rasnacs told the New York Times. “We do not only protect Latvian cultural-historical values, but the cultural-historical values of Europe.”

Latvia, a small Baltic country with a population of two million, agreed to accept 776 refugees over the next two years as part of the EU’s efforts to resettle refugees.

There are thought to be around 1,000 practicing Muslims living in Latvia. 

Former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga said that those wearing a niqab or burqa “at a time of terrorism” presented a “danger to society.”

“Anybody could be under a veil or under a burqa,” she said. “You could carry a rocket launcher under your veil. It’s not funny.”

Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced plans to ban the wearing of all forms of Muslim headscarves in universities.

His plan was met with criticism not only of Muslims groups in France. Feminist groups in the country responded by organizing a “niqab day” at the Political Sciences Institute in Paris. Dozens of students wore veils handed out by the protesters at Sciences Po, to highlight what they regarded as discrimination against Muslim women.