Equality minister Helena Dalli has hinted that the government may ban the wearing of burqas in public after she argued that the law which prohibits individuals from covering their face in public should be clarified to avoid any misinterpretation.
Speaking on Facebook, Dalli said that in an open society, people should not be allowed to cover their face in public if this will make others feel unsafe or fearing their security. Without elaborating, the minister also said this should be banned “for other reasons.”
Worn by female Muslims, the burqa is an outer garment that is used to cover women’s bodies in public. Despite the wearing of the burqa not being as common in Malta as other European countries, a photo of a female driver while wearing a full-face veil fuelled a discussion that had been raging across Europe. The discussion subsequently saw Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi weigh in on the debate. [MaltaToday] Read more
