Proposed new law threatens masked demonstrators with prison time

Controversial bill would ban concealing identity at public gatherings

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The Ministry of Justice says that it will soon be ready to put forward a legislative proposal to make it illegal to wear a mask during a demonstration. The government is expected to present the bill to Parliament on Friday next week.
      Under the proposal, appearing masked at demonstrations, or at any public gatherings, would be a crime, punishable by fines or up to three months’ imprisonment.
      Included in the package is an amendment to the law on assembly, imposing a ban on the possession of "masking devices".
      According to Ilari Hannula, one of the officials drafting the bill, a ban on wearing masks would be difficult to enforce if the masks are not put on until trouble starts.
      However, police would not be given any additional authorisation to conduct searches.
      Under the law on assembly, police and organisers of events have the right to order supervisors of an event to search participants and their goods if the special character of the event makes it necessary.
      Searches are permitted if there is reason to believe that those taking part in an event are in possession of dangerous objects or substances. The amendment would extend the list of banned objects to "masking devices".
     
The proposed ban has come under some criticism. Some say that there would be great difficulties in determining what kinds of garments would constitute a banned mask. For instance, would scarves worn by Muslim women or carnival masks be banned?
      "The purpose would not be to ban sensible masks. The law would have extensive exceptions, which focus on the expression ‘acceptable reason’", Ilari Hannula explains.
      For instance, religious reasons would make it acceptable to cover a person’s face.
      "The law would only ban the kind of masking whose purpose it is to conceal a person’s identity", Hannula says.
      According to Hannula, the aim has been to draft the proposal in such a way that there are no great problems in interpretation. Proponents hope that the bill will be passed into law already during the summer, if possible.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Protest in Helsinki against planned ban on masks during demonstrations (21.11.2003)
  No ban on masks before Independence Day (3.10.2003)
  Legislation planned to restrict wearing of masks in demonstrations (2.10.2003)
  Independence day scuffles lead to calls for banning use of masks during demonstrations (13.12.2002)

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