Government says burqa ban at universities is on the table

Greece’s conservative New Democracy government is considering imposing a ban on burqas at universities, Migration Minister Makis Voridis said, though the measure will not be included in a forthcoming migration bill that takes a hard line on irregular migration, writes Sarantis Michalopoulos for Euractiv.

In an interview with Parapolitika, Voridis said a university burqa ban is on the table, yet migration ministry sources told Euractiv it will not be included in the bill and may be considered separately later. A hardliner from the ruling party’s right-wing faction, Voridis drew criticism for his appointment in a March cabinet reshuffle, seen as a shift further to the right. The upcoming migration bill includes tougher penalties for undocumented migrants, including prison terms of up to three years, fines of €10,000 (US$11,500), and extended detention from 18 months to two years – measures Voridis says are meant to deter arrivals and encourage voluntary returns.

Greece is a majority Orthodox Christian country, where the constitution recognises Orthodoxy as the prevailing religion. According to the Pew Research Center, the Muslim population in the country now exceeds 500,000, driven largely by increased migration in recent years.
Full report on the Euractiv site