A group of Swedish football fans have launched a protest against a new ban on wearing masks at stadiums, exploiting an exception to the ban by wearing niqabs to cover their faces.
"A group of supporters of Swedish football team AIK have protested a new ban on wearing masks at stadiums, exploiting an exception to the ban by wearing niqabs to cover their faces.
On March 1, Sweden banned football fans from covering their faces at sporting venuesto clamp down on violence by masked hooligans, while allowing exceptions for religious reasons.
However, the ban did not include "people who cover their face for religious reasons" or for people wearing masks in the course of their duties, for example firefighters or police, according to the law as approved by parliament.
The legislation sparked uproar among police and supporters alike when it was first introduced. Fans of Stockholm club AIK, who play in the country's top flight, Allsvenskan, took exception to the rule during their season opener against Hocken on Sunday.
The ultras filled the stands of AIK's Friends Arena home stadium, the biggest of its kind in the Nordic area.
A number of ultras wore niqabs to the match at the Friends Arena. The fans held up a banner targeting minister for home affairs Anders Ygeman, who spearheaded the legislation."
An evil thought - here in BC it would be against the law not to hire someone in a hijab to work at Hooters but they to be able to require them to wear high heels.... maybe we really will see people after a few drinks in the waiting lounge asking the patio umbrella if their table is ready yet.
https://www.rt.com/sport/383346-swedish ... -mask-ban/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ear ... -mask-ban/
"A group of supporters of Swedish football team AIK have protested a new ban on wearing masks at stadiums, exploiting an exception to the ban by wearing niqabs to cover their faces.
On March 1, Sweden banned football fans from covering their faces at sporting venuesto clamp down on violence by masked hooligans, while allowing exceptions for religious reasons.
However, the ban did not include "people who cover their face for religious reasons" or for people wearing masks in the course of their duties, for example firefighters or police, according to the law as approved by parliament.
The legislation sparked uproar among police and supporters alike when it was first introduced. Fans of Stockholm club AIK, who play in the country's top flight, Allsvenskan, took exception to the rule during their season opener against Hocken on Sunday.
The ultras filled the stands of AIK's Friends Arena home stadium, the biggest of its kind in the Nordic area.
A number of ultras wore niqabs to the match at the Friends Arena. The fans held up a banner targeting minister for home affairs Anders Ygeman, who spearheaded the legislation."