Shadow Justice Secretary Advocates Burqa Ban
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called for the UK to impose a ban on the burqa, aligning with calls from Conservative backbenchers and Reform MPs, reports BritPanorama.
Jenrick’s remarks signify a notable shift within the opposition, as he becomes the first shadow cabinet minister to explicitly support such a prohibition. He emphasized that outlawing full-face coverings would aid in shaping “the kind of society we want to hand onto our kids and grand-kids.”
During an interview, Jenrick stated, “I probably would ban the burqa. There are basic values in this country and we should stand up and defend them.” He voiced concerns over what he perceives as the erosion of these values, pointing to the presence of sharia courts and the wearing of the burqa as significant issues to address.
His advocacy coincides with a broader push from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, which aims to ban burqas and niqabs in all public spaces. The Brothers of Italy party plans to introduce legislation targeting “Islamic separatism,” which would include restrictions on full-face veils alongside measures regulating mosque funding and combating forced marriages.
European nations have previously enacted similar bans, often citing security and integration concerns. France initiated this trend in April 2011 by passing a law prohibiting face-covering veils in public. Belgium quickly followed suit, adopting a similar ban by July of the same year. Other countries, including Austria and Denmark, have since established their own regulations against public face coverings, with Switzerland recently voting for a ban in a 2021 referendum.
In response to these developments, Shadow Home Secretary Suella Braverman has urged, “If Italy is doing this, why aren’t we? We need to ban the burqa now.”
