Muslims have hit back over plans to introduce a burqa ban in Estonia by saying that politicians should have more important things to discuss, as there are no women wearing full face veils that they know of in the country.
Lembi Treumuth, of the Estonian Islamic Centre in Tallinn, told The Baltic Times that there is no need for a ban at present.
She said: “Most Estonian Muslims find this discussion over the burqa absurd — people don’t use it here. There are a few — and really a few — that wear hijab daily but the burka or face veil is just not worn here. If there is someone wearing it (that we do not know about) then it’s intriguing even to us.
“Generally we don’t have any problems with whatever they (parliament) decide; we consider this problem a pseudo-problem and we think there are much more important things in society that politicians should address, instead of wasting time on such matter.
“It’s quite certain that Estonia is not, and will not be, the desired destination of refugees and most of them want to move on from here anyway. Also, the ones who would like to wear burqa (if there are such), would most likely not stay.”
Treumuth’s comment come after the Justice Ministry put forward plans for the burqa to be banned in public last month.
However the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it would not support such a ban, not least because it would require an expensive public consultation before any law could be drawn up.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rainer Saks said the idea was “premature.”
“We believe that these (bans) on wearing facial veils is premature, given that such a fundamental question needs a thorough analysis and an open, broad, and inclusive debate,” he said according to public broadcaster ERR.
“To date, these discussions have not yet occurred or alternative solutions considered.”