Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 01 October 2016: Bulgarian parliament outlaws face-covering veil

On the wave of the widespread fears over recent terrorist attacks and the unresolved migrant crisis, Bulgaria has passed a law banning face-covering veils in public places. The bill, which was lobbied by the ruling coalition party Patriotic Front in March and largely supported also by GERB and the opposition, was approved on September 30 by the Bulgarian parliament. The measure is clearly referred to Islamic face-covering burqas and niqab and will affect approximately 1 million of Bulgarians (13.4% of total population - The Guardian) amongst Turks, Roma and Pomaks. The national ban follows the restrictive bill introduced by Pazardjik municipality, which came into force in May after episodes of radicalization and religious hatred within the local Muslim community.

The law states that, as “pre-emptive measure”, partial or complete face-coverings my not be worn in public administrations, schools, and other public places except for “health reasons, professional necessity and at sporting and cultural events.” From now on, women caught wearing partial or complete face-covering veil will be fined up to about 750 euros depending on recidivism. Yet, burqa and niqab do not belong to the custom of Bulgarian Muslim women, who traditionally wear just a hair-covering scarf. Only a very small part among women belonging to radical Salafism actually wear the niqab, with a recent slight increase in cases. For this reason, groups opposing the bill, among which the Turks opposition party, consider this as an act of “religious intolerance.”

With this law, Bulgaria, which built up a 146 km fence along its southern border to limit refugees flow last year, joins other European countries such as France, Belgium, and the Netherlands which banned face veil after the debate on security raised sharply in the aftermath of last terrorist attacks and the European migration crisis.