Perussuomalaiset MPs seek burka ban in public places in Finland

Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, also a lawmaker of the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) on Friday said that she supported a proposal for imposing ban on covering face in public places, reported national broadcaster Yle.

The minister, however, said it is unlikely to enact a law in this regard during the regime of the present four-party alliance government.

Earlier this week, 14 lawmakers of the Perussuomalaiset, the second largest component of the government submitted the proposal to the parliament seeking ban on wearing burka, a traditional dress worn by some women of Muslim community to cover the face and body, in public places, reported several news media including Yle on Tuesday.

The MPs, led by Ari Koponen in their proposal also sought ban on wearing niqab, a veil used to cover the face.

“I took the initiative to ban the burka in Finland, like many other European countries. There is no place in Finland for a culture that subjugates women,” Koponen wrote in a post in his social media platform X in Finnish.

His post also said that enter into the country in Finnish style or leave the country, claiming that the initiative would promote the rights of girls and women.

Other signatories in the proposal are Teemu Keskisarja, Onni Rostila, Miko Bergbom, Antti Kangas, Juho Eerola, Juha Mäenpää, Tomi Immonen, Merja Rasinkangas, Rami Lehtinen, Sanna Antikainen, Mikko Lundén, Mauri Peltokangas and Laura Huhtasaari.