Images and videos being shared on social media with claims they show Tesco security guards stopping women wearing niqabs from entering stores are not real and were created using artificial intelligence (AI).
The posts, which have been liked thousands of times, typically feature an image of a security guard standing in what appears to be an aisle in a Tesco supermarket confronting a woman wearing a niqab. A caption under several versions of the post says: “Woman in niqab turned away by Tesco security – is this the right policy for UK stores?”
We couldn’t find any media reports of security guards at Tesco supermarkets turning away women for wearing niqabs.
While some political parties have committed to, or are reportedly considering, a ban on face coverings such as niqabs and burkas, the UK government has said it has no intention to introduce legislation to this effect. It said that under the Human Rights Act 1998 “everyone has the legal right to freedom of religion, including the right to express their religion” and “this includes the right to wear religious attire except where limitations are prescribed by law for specific limited purposes”.
Join 73,000 newsletter subscribers who trust us to check the facts
Sign up to get weekly updates on politics, immigration, health and more.
Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from Full Fact for updates on politics, immigration, health and more.
Our fact checks are free to read but not to produce, so you will also get occasional emails about fundraising
and other ways you can help. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we use your data
see our Privacy Policy.