Denmark Plans to Ban Religious Symbols for Public Prosecutors

Denmark wants to ban public prosecutors from wearing visible religious or political symbols in court.

This proposed policy aims to protect public trust in the neutrality of Danish courts.

Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen announced the plan to Danish media, as reported by CPH Post.

He stated that visible religious symbols must not weaken public confidence in court objectivity.

Since 2009, judges in Denmark cannot wear religious or political symbols in court.

Denmark's Administration of Justice Act set this rule for judges and lay judges.

However, this law does not currently cover public prosecutors.

The debate began after prosecutor Zahra Sediqi posted on LinkedIn.

She is a prosecutor with the State Prosecutor in Viborg.

She wrote that she felt proud as Denmark's first prosecutor wearing a headscarf.

The prosecution service confirmed it has no rule against wearing a hijab at work.

The Association of Public Prosecutors supported Sediqi completely.

They stated that she followed all existing rules.

Politicians from several parties then called for equal rules across the justice system.

Denmark Democrats spokesperson Dennis Flydtkjær said court objectivity must remain completely clear.

The Danish People's Party also criticized having different rules for judges and prosecutors.

Sediqi has not commented on the proposal.