The Sweden Democrats (SD) have announced plans to push for a nationwide ban on Islamic veils in public places, marking a significant expansion of the party’s previous position, which focused primarily on prohibiting full-face coverings such as the niqab and burqa.
According to the party’s spokesperson on equality and honour-related issues, Sara Gille, the aim is to introduce a comprehensive ban on what she describes as “Islamist garments.”
“Our ambition is to introduce a total ban on these Islamist garments in Sweden. If you come within Swedish borders, you have to take them off if you are going to live and reside here,” Gille told Sveriges Radio.
The proposal would extend beyond full-face veils to include the hijab, which is worn by many Muslim women in Sweden. If implemented, it would affect a substantially larger group than previous proposals aimed solely at face-covering garments.
Gille argued that veils are often linked to honour-related oppression and the subordination of women. According to her, many girls and women wear such garments not out of personal choice but because of pressure from family members or their wider social environment.
When asked about women who choose to wear a veil voluntarily, the Sweden Democrat MP maintained her position.
“If you want to do it, there are other countries to go to where they actually allow it,” she told state radio.
The proposal represents a significant escalation of the party’s long-running campaign against what it regards as the growing influence of political Islam in Sweden.
Earlier this year, Sweden Democrat MEP Charlie Weimers submitted a motion to the European Parliament calling for a moratorium on the construction of new mosques across the European Union. The initiative, backed by lawmakers from 17 member states, argued that authorities should act against institutions where extremism and violent Islamism are alleged to flourish.
Weimers has previously claimed that some mosques and Islamic centres across Europe have been linked to radicalisation, recruitment, and extremist activity, and has called for action at the local, national, and EU levels.
The latest veil proposal suggests the Sweden Democrats are increasingly willing to move beyond restrictions on Islamist institutions and symbols to challenge the public display of Islamic dress more broadly.
