'The burka does NOT belong in Sweden - ban it while we can,' warns Deputy PM

"We don't want to see burkas and niqabs out in public... The burka doesn't belong in Sweden and we won't pave the way for it," she said.

A burka covers the entirety of the wearer's face, while the niqab leaves a small slit for the eyes.

Slapping down concerns about politicians dictating what people can wear, Ms Busch blamed "naive liberalism" for bringing Sweden "to the situation we are in today".

"Almost 70,000 women are female genital mutilated in this country," she blasted to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet.

"It has gone far too far already. It will take a long time to reverse this. Then we also need to keep the issue of niqab and burqa clearly on the agenda and ban it while we can.

"You are very welcome to be a Muslim in Sweden, but not in the way that Islam is practiced in Iran and Afghanistan.

"I don't want to bring more totalitarian Islamists here.

"They are not welcome here in the future and you have to adapt if you are already in the country."

Sweden has grappled with Islam and Islamic extremism in recent years following years of high migration.

Earlier in 2025, a prominent anti-Islam campaigner, Salwan Momika, was shot dead just hours before he was due to receive a court verdict following a trial over burning a copy of the Koran.

Five people were arrested after his death - who have all since been released.

ISLAM IN EUROPE - READ MORE:

• Sharia law made LEGALLY BINDING in Austria despite warning over 'incompatible' values
• France bans Muslim 'training centre' for promoting 'armed jihad and radical Islam'
• Popular Spanish town bans Muslim festivals in public spaces - 'Spain will forever be Christian!'
• Group accused of being front for Islamist organisation opens in Britain despite French concerns

WATCH: Ayaan Hirsi Ali speaks to GB News after Salwan Momika's death

A murder investigation is still ongoing involving Swedish security services over concerns about his death's potential links to foreign powers.

Speaking to GB News after his death, fellow outspoken Islam critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali voiced concerns that the threat of Islamism had risen to new levels after years of "appeasement".

"Appeasement [has] led only to more emboldenment and aggression," she said. "The rise of intolerance towards immigration and Muslims has gone up, and social cohesion has almost completely broken down."

This week's call for a public burka ban in Sweden follows the same call from Italy just days prior.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party tabled a Bill for a ban in a bid to crack down on "Islamic separatism".

France introduced a blanket public burka ban in 2011.

Across Europe, countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Switzerland have all moved to impose bans in some form.

The European Court of Human Rights has upheld these bans.

Earlier this year in Britain, Reform UK's Sarah Pochin raised the issue to the Prime Minister at PMQs.

Ms Pochin backed Ms Meloni's calls for a ban last week, telling the Express: "I fully support Georgia Meloni's call for a ban on the burka and niqab in public spaces."