Bulgarian deputies passed the law on banning the wearing of garments that cover or hide the face, more popular as the law on banning burkas.

In the middle of June, the draft bill of the Patriotic Front was passed at first reading after heated debates in Parliament. The ban is expected to be in force at public institutions, places related to providing administrative, educational and public services, places for public recreation, sports and culture.

According to the initiators of the bill, the wearing of such garments may facilitate acts of terrorism with a potentially large number of victims. The ban will not be in force at people’s homes and official places of worship.

The bill passed through several commissions and was approved by all of them. In between, a local ban was introduced in several cities. One of the first was Pazardzhik. There, the municipality regularly fines people who have violated the ban.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary group of DPS left Parliament and refused to participate in the passing of the “Law on banning burkas”. DPS’leader Mustafa Karadayi called on his colleagues to do so in a negative vote after accepting the name “Law on banning burkas.”

According to the stipulations of the law, the fine for wearing garments that cover or hide the face in a public place will be BGN 200 for the first breach of law, BGN 1,500 for every subsequent one and, if the person is a public official, the fine will be BGN 2,000 for the first breach and BGN 2,000 for every subsequent one.

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