Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen on Tuesday expressed her view against covering face by school children wearing burkas and niqabs.
The minister in a post on social media also spoke about protecting women from oppressive religious cultures in schools.
Burkas and niqabs are traditional dresses worn by some women of Muslim community to cover the face and body, in public places.
"Burkas and niqabs — scarves and veils covering the face — are not appropriate for school. Children should be allowed to be children and live freely in Finnish society,” she wrote in a post on her social media platform X, adding that it is about equality and children's rights and safety.
Grahn-Laasonen, also a lawmaker of Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party), said that it is necessary to ensure that no one in Finland needs to cover face.
"We should have the courage to talk about how we protect women from oppressive religious cultures and work to ensure that no one in Finland has to cover their face," the minister added.
Terming the issue as difficult from the aspect of religious freedom, she said that an equal society could not allow women to be invisible.
Earlier in November 2024, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen, also a lawmaker of the Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) 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.
That time, 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.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
