Boris Johnson's recent comments about burkas, which have left him under investigation by the Conservatives, were made in response to Denmark's new ban on the face covering. Sky's Europe correspondent Michelle Clifford has travelled to the country to talk to women who are now breaking the law because of what they wear. In a car park in Copenhagen I meet Sabina. She has the bright eyes of a young woman and, except for the hands, that is all I can see of her. This 21-year-old Muslim who was born and bred in Denmark is wearing a niqab - a form of Islamic dress which covers her body and controversially her face in defiance of a ban in Denmark. Advertisement Image: Burka ban protester Sabina "I made the choice to wear the niqab two years ago," she says. "It was my choice. It makes me feel humbled before God. I see it as part of my faith and now it has become a part of my identity. Which is why I feel so strongly about it." And she wears it speaking to me now as a law breaker. She risks being stopped by the police and fined every time she goes out in public wearing her chosen form of dress. But she is defiant, saying: "It has now also become part of the protest against this ban." Sabina is gathering with other niqab-wearing women outside a police station in the capital to protest against a new law that prohibits the wearing of any "garment that covers the face in public". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 'The niqab is part of my identity' It's being called the "burka ban", even by many of the politicians who voted it in, reflecting the fact that it will mainly target the more extreme forms of Islamic dress. The women here see the law as an attack on their fundamental freedom to practise Islam the way they choose. As they gather, they are joined by many non-Muslims wearing masks, animal head costumes and other fancy dress items to mock the legislation which came into force earlier this month. Image: Protesters against the burka ban wore a variety of masks covering their faces The police stand by but do not intervene as they did recently, fining a women for covering her face in public. In truth, many officers are worried about how to implement the ban. Under the law, someone wearing a mask to a party is technically as guilty as a woman shielded by the cloth of a niqab or burka. But officers are coming under pressure to act and few voices are louder than that of Kenneth Kristensen Berth - a politician with the right-wing Danish People's Party which has pushed for a ban on face veils for years. He insists the niqab and burka set women apart from Danish society. Using language reminiscent of Boris Johnson's recent remarks likening women wearing Muslim face veils to letter-boxes and bank robbers, he pours scorn on the clothing. Image: Kenneth Kristensen Berth is from the right-wing Danish People's Party "There are a lot of places where you can go and wear a niqab if you want," he says, as he suggests women move to Saudi Arabia. "Where it is more or less natural to do it. But it's not natural in Denmark to walk around looking like a living tent." At other times in our conversation he likens women in the clothing to ghosts and insists they represent an extreme form of Islam which should be feared. And he says the ban will stop Denmark becoming like parts of the UK. "I think it's absolutely crucial to have a burka ban otherwise we will end up like London where we have niqab all around," he adds. Those are certainly strong - many would say highly offensive - words, and there are plenty of people who accuse him of being anti-Islamic. Image: While parts of Denmark are ethnically diverse, the burka is uncommon But he and his party were not alone in backing the legislation which ended the right to wear the niqab or burka in public. When the Dutch parliament followed other EU countries including France and Belgium in introducing the ban, many MPs justified the move by citing security concerns, claiming anyone could be hiding behind a face veil. Others insisted the strict dress code does not integrate women into society. We travelled to the ethnically diverse area of Norrebro in the Danish capital, where many Muslims live, and even there we couldn't find anyone who spoke in favour of wearing the niqab (the burka really does not feature in Denmark). The truth is the clothing is worn by a tiny minority of Muslim women - estimated to be fewer than 150 in Denmark. Does that mean people support the ban? Not the people we spoke to. Image: Many in Danish society claim women are forced into covering up Most, including women wearing Muslim head dress but not face cover, said it was still an individual's right to choose. Some non-Muslims called the ban "stupid". Some said open discussion to persuade women not to wear the garments was needed - not a law. And that latter sentiment is echoed by Human Rights campaigners including Jacob Mchangama-Justitia who condemns what he calls the criminalising of women. He tells me: "I personally do not like the face veil. I think it is representative of misogyny and religious extremism. "But a woman who chooses that of her own free will should have the right to offend the deeply held values of Danish citizens, so I think it is a restriction of freedom of religion and expression that is not fit for a liberal democracy." There are plenty in Danish society who disagree and who claim women are forced into covering up. Image: Some are saying the ban on face coverings could backfire and lead to isolation Sabina insists that claim is nonsense. And adds that if people think the ban will help with integration the strategy will backfire.<doc-sep>FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Writing in his regular newspaper column, Mr Johnson suggested banning the burka could increase tensions between Muslims and other demographic groups. He said: “I am against a total ban because it is inevitably construed – rightly or wrongly – as being intended to make some point about Islam. “If you go for a total ban, you play into the hands of those who want to politicise and dramatise the so-called clash of civilisations; and you fan the flames of grievance. “You risk turning people into martyrs, and you risk a general crackdown on any public symbols of religious affiliation, and you may simply make the problem worse. “If Danish women really want to cover their faces, then it seems a bit extreme – all the caveats above understood – to stop them under all circumstances. I don’t propose we follow suit. A total ban is not the answer.” Denmark is the fifth EU nation to ban the niqab and burka in public. In recent years, France, Belgium, Austria, and Germany have all implemented similar rules. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he continued: “Restrictions are not quite the same as telling a free-born adult woman what she may or may not wear, in a public place, when she is simply minding her own business.” However, in comments which are sure to cause controversy, the Uxbridge MP admitted he thinks the burka is “oppressive” and there are times when he thinks it may be appropriate for them to be removed. Boris Johnson arrives in Moscow for 'vital' talks with Russia Fri, December 22, 2017 Boris' visit to Russia, the first in five years by a British Foreign Secretary, comes at a time when relations with the West are at their frostiest since the Cold War. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 10 British Foreign Secretary Johnson attends a news conference following the talks with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Moscow He wrote in the newspaper: “If you tell me that the burka is oppressive, then I am with you. If you say that it is weird and bullying to expect women to cover their faces, then I totally agree – and I would add that I can find no scriptural authority for the practice in the Koran. “I would go further and say that it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes; and I thoroughly dislike any attempt by any – invariably male – government to encourage such demonstrations of “modesty”.” The MP added: “If a constituent came to my MP’s surgery with her face obscured, I should feel fully entitled – like Jack Straw – to ask her to remove it so that I could talk to her properly. “If a female student turned up at school or at a university lecture looking like a bank robber then ditto: those in authority should be allowed to converse openly with those that they are being asked to instruct.” Boris Johnson could be Prime Minister claims Peter Bone<doc-sep>Women in Denmark are wearing burqas and niqabs in protest at a new law banning the garments that comes into force today. Denmark is the latest European country to ban items of clothing that cover the face – including Islamic veils such as the niqab or burqa – after parliament approved the ban in May. People who do not follow the new rule can be fined over £100 for a first offence – with the figure rising to £1,200 or a jail sentence of up to six months. Supporters and opponents of the ban battled it out as the law came into effect on Wednesday. Marcus Knuth, a Danish MP for the ruling liberal party Venstre, argued the dress worn by some conservative Muslim women was “strongly oppressive”. Sasha Andersen, of the Party Rebels activist group, is planning a protest later in the day against what it branded a “discriminatory” measure against a minority group. Protests against the ban are scheduled for later on Wednesday in the Scandinavian country’s capital Copenhagen and the city of Aarhus. Police have said protesters who planned to fully cover their faces at the demonstrations would not be at risk of being issued with a fine. However, Benny Ochkenholt of the Danish national police told public broadcaster DR that fines could be dished out if attendees wore face veils en route to and from the protests. Groups which are in favour of what is known as the “burqa ban” also plan to gather. A spokesperson for Kvinder I Dialog (Women In Dialogue), a group which is opposed to the ban, told The Independent a “huge demonstration” is taking place and they would not be “bending the knee to injustice”. “The purpose of this demonstration is to show that we do not accept this kind of unjust treatment regardless of who we are dealing with,” she said. “They [the police] have emphasised that they will not tear off women’s niqabs if they spot them in the streets. Getting fined is more probable.” She argued the ban was an attempt to restrict the Muslim community and their religious identity and values. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox According to DF's immigration and integration spokesman Martin Henriksen, the government should consider introducing prison terms in the legislation. The Liberals and the Danish People's Party (DF), currently members of Denmark's ruling coalition, argue that the pledge by Rachid Nekkaz to pay all fines accrued under the contentious "Burka Law" is undermining Danish law. It comes as two of Denmark's parties are considering upping the punishment for transgressing the recent ban from £121 to a prison sentence, as it risks being rendered ineffective by a French-Algerian mogul previously dubbed the "Zorro of Niqab." Pictures show the Kvinder i Dialog group defying the ban by wearing face veils in the capital, with some angrily waving placards in the air. ‘We BELIEVE in FREE SPEECH in this country’ - Tory MP’s message "If he pays the fines, we think it should be regarded as income, so that the women for whom he pays the fines shall be taxed," he argued. "Also, we think this is a reason why the government should consider imposing prison terms – you may pay fines for others, but you cannot serve terms for others," Martin Henriksen added. 12 other nations have banned the burka, including Austria, France, Belgium, Tajikistan, Latvia, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Netherlands, China and Morocco. The protest comes as former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson compared women who wore burkas to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers” in a Telegraph comment piece which argued against a blanket ban on burkas in the UK. The remarks sparked indignation from within the Conservative Party, with Prime Minister Theresa May and party chairman, Brandon Lewis, both calling for Mr Johnson to apologise. But Mr Johnson is refusing to back down, claiming his observations were innocuous and adding it was “ridiculous” to attack his comments.<doc-sep>
Jacob Rees-Mogg on Boris in burka row: May is 'clearly wrong' Thousands of women took to the streets of Copenaghen after a Muslim woman became the first victim of the new Danish law banning burkas in public. The 1000 kroner (£120) fine was given on August 3 to a 28-year-old who refused to remove the veil after being asked by police officers. The incident took place at a shopping centre in Horsholm, 25km north of Copenhagen. The ruling that prompted the punishment came into effect on August 1. I would go further and say that is it absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes Boris Johnson The law says that "anyone who wears a garment that hides the face in public will be punished with a fine”. While it doesn’t openly speaks of burkas or niqabs, the new measure has been seen by many as a discriminatory move against them. The protest against the new law didn’t take place only in the streets but also on the runway. Danish designer Reza Etamadi made a political statement at the Copenhagen Fashion Week, which ended today, letting her models walking down the catwalk wearing burkas and niqabs alongside police officers. Burka ban protest: Thousands of women protested against the new Danish law banning burkas in public The main difference between a burka and a niqab is that the latter doesn’t cover the eyes of the woman wearing it, but still hides the rest of her face. The protests come while Britain is also facing a row focused on burkas. In one of the articles written for his new column for the Daily Telegraph, former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Muslim wearing wearing face coverings “look like letter boxes”. He wrote: “If you tell me that the burka is oppressive, then I am with you. A woman was given a 1000 kroner (£120) fine for wearing a burka in Denmark “If you say that it is weird and bullying to expect women to cover their faces, then I totally agree - and I would add that I can find no scriptural authority for the practice in the Koran. “I would go further and say that is it absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.” In the op-ed, Mr Johnson was arguing against the UK following the example of Denmark and banning the burkas. But he still said he expected women to remove the face coverings in certain places, such as schools and universities. Boris Johnson said Muslim wearing wearing face coverings 'look like letter boxes'