Proposal made to Cabinet to impose burqa ban: Justice Minister

Justice Minister Ali Sabry said a proposal has been made to the Cabinet to impose laws to ban wearing of the burqa in public places considering the security of the country.

He told a news conference that a Cabinet Paper has also been submitted to amend Muslim laws by November.

“We have submitted a cabinet paper to amend Muslim laws by November. We have proposed to amend matters widely discussed in society such as minimum marriageable age as 18, allowing Muslim woman to sign when getting married and to ensure equal rights to women as men,” he said and added that “in addition, we have proposed that burqa should not be worn in public places. This is not targeting a specific community, but considering the security of the country," he said.

The Minister said the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance will not be abolished or amended under his tenure as the Justice Minister.

“I must say, as long as I am the Justice Minister, I will never abolish or even touch the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance. I haven’t even dreamt of doing so,” he said.