Danish ban on masks

04-feb-2000 14:00

The Danish parliament is planning to ban masks at demonstrations. Yesterday Danish politician and military-man Helge Adam Møller was interviewed on TV, saying that he was very happy about the upcoming law, since it would enable the police to stop people on their way to a demonstration if they carry a mask (anywhere - in a pocket or a bag). Here is my translation of the proposal: "The parliament urges the government before the end of this year to make a proposal to change section 134 of the criminal law to the effect that it will be punishable to be in a public place in conjunction with others with ones face completely or partially covered by a hut, a mask, paint or similar that can hinder identification. The mask-ban shall not be in effect for covering of the face when it is done to protect from the weather, or for other recognizable purpose." After the actual law-proposal text 733 words of "remarks regarding the proposal" follows. The first line is worth translating: "The purpose of this proposal is to hinder people who want to break down and destroy the society". Insanity. How can they ever justify giving the Police the right to arrest people who hasn't done anything but wearing, or carrying, a mask? Besides the obvious ridiculous consequences, it also dispenses with the entire idea of the Police only arresting people they suspect have done something wrong. Would you want to live in a country where the Police could lock you up for having a mask in your pocket and moving in the direction of a demonstration? Would you want to live in a country where you couldn't wear a mask at a legal demonstration, doing nothing illegal? How just is that? How right is that? Todays quote: How can the life of such a man Be in the palm of some fool's hand? Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land Where justice is a game. Time to think about emigration.