The Greek government is officially analyzing the introduction of a statutory ban on covering the face in public places. Minister Thanos Plevris confirmed that work is underway on regulations concerning the burqa and niqab.

Official confirmation of work

Minister Thanos Plevris announced in parliament that the government is analyzing the legal framework for a ban on full face coverings.

Scope of regulations

Any potential ban would concern the burqa and niqab, not including traditional Islamic headscarves (hijabs).

Government's argumentation

The authorities argue that the burqa offends women's dignity and may pose a threat to public security.

Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris announced on March 11, 2026, that the government in Athens is considering introducing a statutory ban on wearing the burqa in public places. During a speech at a parliamentary plenary session, the minister confirmed that this issue is currently under analysis and is at the stage of examining possible legal solutions. Potential regulations would apply only to garments that completely cover the face, such as the burqa or niqab. Thanos Plevris simultaneously clarified that work on the new regulations will not include traditional Islamic headscarves that do not cover the face. Currently, the project is at the preliminary analysis stage, and the government has not yet set a specific timeline or final scope for the planned restrictions.

The decision to undertake work on the ban results from an analysis of legal solutions already functioning in other European countries, which Greece intends to adapt to its own system. Thanos Plevris argued that fully covering the face in public spaces violates fundamental social values and may pose a significant challenge to public security. According to the minister, wearing the burqa directly offends the dignity of women, which is one of the main foundations for considering legislative intervention. The Ministry of Migration and Asylum is currently examining how similar bans have been implemented in other countries to avoid legal errors when drafting the Greek law. „Το ζήτημα είναι στο τραπέζι. Εξετάζουμε το νομικό πλαίσιο άλλων χωρών” (The issue is on the table. We are examining the legal framework of other countries) — Thanos Plevris via Kathimerini

Greece has for years remained one of the main transit and destination countries for migrants arriving in Europe via the Aegean Sea, which regularly sparks debates about cultural integration. The discussion on banning face coverings fits into a broader legislative trend visible in the European Union, initiated by France, which was the first to introduce similar regulations in 2011. In the Greek parliament, issues concerning religious symbols in public spaces have rarely been the subject of such radical legislative proposals. The previous approach of the authorities in Athens was based on avoiding direct bans on religious attire, focusing rather on asylum procedures and border protection. [{"aspekt": "Full face covering (burqa, niqab)", "przed": "No statutory restrictions", "po": "Planned ban in public places"}, {"aspekt": "Islamic headscarves (hijab)", "przed": "Permitted", "po": "Remain permitted (excluded from the work)"}, {"aspekt": "Regulation justification", "przed": "No specified doctrine", "po": "Security and women's dignity"}]

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