Bulgaria bans full-face Islamic veil in publicOctober 1, 2016 - 12:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Bulgaria banned on Friday, September 30 face-covering Islamic veils in public, joining a small number of EU countries as the debate rages across Europe about religious freedoms, AFP reports. Parliament approved the law that "bans wearing in public clothing that partially or completely covers the face", referring to the burqa or the more common niqab. Infringements carry fines of 200 leva (103 euros, $114), rising to 1,500 leva for repeated offences. Bulgaria's mostly centuries-old Muslim community, dating back to conversions during Ottoman times, makes up around 13 percent of the population, mostly in the Turkish minority. Muslim women in Bulgaria have generally worn just a simple scarf to cover their hair. But recently there has been a small rise in the number of women wearing the niqab among ultra-conservative Muslim communities of the Roma minority, AFP says. The often impoverished and marginalised Roma make up just under 10 percent of Bulgaria's population, around a third of whom are Muslim. Several Bulgarian towns had already banned the niqab at local level. The legislation was approved despite opposition from the MDL Turkish minority party which accused the other parties of "sowing religious intolerance." Rights group Amnesty International strongly criticised the ban. "This law is part of a disturbing trend of intolerance, xenophobia and racism in Bulgaria," the group's Europe director John Dalhuisen said in a statement. France and Belgium have both banned the burqa or niqab and Switzerland's lower house this week narrowly approved a draft bill on a nationwide ban. In August Germany's interior minister came out in favour of a partial ban. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia. Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements. Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of Armenia Henrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |