Bulgarian town bans Muslim veil

A Bulgarian town that is home to a Roma minority practising Islam has banned Islamic face veils in public for the first time in the country.

Politicians in Pazardzhik, a town of some 70,000 people, adopted the ban on Wednesday in all administrative buildings, schools, shops and on the street as well as driving with a veil or niqab.

Muslims make up about 12 percent of Bulgaria's 7.2 million population and most belong to a centuries-old community.

Earlier this month, the nationalist Patriotic Front coalition, which backs the government, proposed a nation-wide ban on full-face veils.

A bill which is yet to be put to vote in the legislature also proposes jail sentences of up to three years and fines for anyone who incites others to wear a niqab.

Pazardhik Mayor Todor Popov said fine would be imposed on anyone who defies the ban.

Thirteen spiritual leaders from Pazardzhik's community are currently standing trial for allegedly propagating extremist ideology and helping people join Daesh.

France and Belgium have in recent years both banned the wearing of the niqab in public.

SS