Thanos Plevris has opened debate in parliament on the potential banning of full facial coverings worn for religious reasons, following a question from a lawmaker from the Greek Solution.
Plevris said no regulatory framework has yet been finalised, noting the government is examining legislation in other countries and relevant case law.
However, Antigone Lyberaki questioned the rationale for such a move, saying the issue appears largely theoretical.
“We are going through the process of inventing an adversary,” she said, adding that in years visiting refugee reception camps in Greece she had never encountered women with fully covered faces.
Lyberaki also warned bans could create unintended consequences, pointing to Britain where similar restrictions were rejected amid concerns conservative families might stop daughters from attending school.
She argued the debate “conceals, in reality, an Islamophobia,” and said such measures could undermine efforts to build open and free societies.
Source: Ekathimerini.
