Danish PM criticizes immigration minister in row over head scarves

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has criticized his immigration minister in a dispute over whether judges should be allowed to wear Muslim head scarves in court. Fogh Rassmussen's government is considering a ban on hijabs for judges but Immigration Minister Birthe Roenn Hornbech has broken party ranks and publicly opposed such a ban. In an opinion piece in a Danish newspaper she said lawmakers have no business regulating the dress code of judges. The premier said her article was "unfortunate" and has been cleared with him first. He said Wednesday that he still has confidence in her as a minister. Denmark's court administration last year issued guidelines saying judges are not prohibited from wearing head scarves.