PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON PROPOSED BURQA BAN IN THE BULGARIAN TOWN OF PAZARDZHIK

A public discussion on the proposed ban for wearing a face-covering will be held in the municipal council’s hall in the South Bulgarian town of Pazardzhik on 22nd of April.

On 18th of April, municipal councillors from the party “National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria” tabled a proposal for changes to the regulation on public order and security, suggesting to ban wearing of burqa in public places.

Before that, the Mayor of Pazardzhik Todor Popov made a proposal the wearing burqa to be banned in in municipal and public buildings.

The discussion will be on whether the ban should be for all public places or not. The burqa ban only aims to ensure the security of the members of the public and to more easily identify the face of those who are under the garment. The authors of the proposal say that the texts are not in conflict with the European Union law and do not contradict the European Convention on HumanRrights.