Storming the runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week to campaign against Denmark’s most recent ban on Islamic burqas, were an army of niqab clad models.
Designer Reza Etamadi protested against the ban with his latest collection for his brand, MUF10, dedicating it to his support of women wearing whatever they want.
“I have a duty to support all women’s freedom of speech thought and free choice we in western countries are known for and proud to have,” said the Danish-based designer.
Since announcing the ban on Islamic face veils, thousands of Muslim and non-Muslim Danes took to the streets of Copenhagen to protest it and marched for 3 hours, as they chanted, “no racists in our streets” and “my life, my choice”.
Reza Etamadi’s show was somewhat controversial as the show included models dressed as police, re-enacting a quite famous and heartfelt instance that happened at the protest where a female Danish officer hugged a woman in a niqab. When spoken to about the show, the Iranian-American designer stated that he had no “unanimous attitude” towards the ban, but did have an opinion that clashes with the new law, and that is, “no man should decide what women should wear.”
Photographed instance where a Danish police officer hugged a Niqabi woman during the protests in Denmark.
Denmark had first deliberated the burqa-ban in February 2018, where they wouldn’t be permitted to be worn in a public place. The law was passed in May 2018 and came into full effect this month. Should women be seen wearing their niqab, they will be fined 1,000 kroner, which is around $150.
Denmark’s decision to ban the burqa follows other European countries including France, Netherlands, Bulgaria and Bavaria. France had become the first European country to ban the niqab, turbans and religious-wear back in 2011, whilst the Netherlands introduced their ban on face veils in schools, hospitals and public transport this June.
