Kingdom of the Netherlands bans the burka in public places
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...public-places/
Kingdom of the Netherlands bans the burka in public places
The Dutch Parliament votes overwhelmingly to ban the burka following Belgium, France & Switzerland
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telegraph
Dutch MPs on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to ban the Islamic full-face burka from some public places such as schools and hospitals, the latest such move in a European country.
"The law is adopted," said the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Khadija Arib, referring to legislation which will also ban burkas, and face coverings just with eye-slits, from public transport.
The motion "to ban all clothing which completely covers the face" from government buildings was approved by 132 members in the 150-seat house, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte's ruling Liberal-Labour coalition.
The legislation must now go before the Senate for approval before becoming law. It follows similar bans imposed in France and Belgium, and comes amid rising tensions in Europe with Islamic communities.
The Dutch cabinet had approved the plan in mid-2015, but decided not to go as far as banning wearing burkas on the streets.
It backed the legislation due to the "necessity to be able to interact face-to-face, for instance in places where public services are performed and safety must be guaranteed," the government said.
"The government sees no need to impose the ban on all public spaces," it added.
Those flouting the ban would face a fine of up to €410 (around $430).
Safety equipment such as helmets or full-face protection while working, playing sport or "during a festive or cultural event" is not however included in the ban.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Telegraph
Supporting the ban was the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) of firebrand politician Geert Wilders, who is leading opinion polls ahead of March elections.
His election campaign appears to have been given a boost thanks to the publicity from his trial on charges of hate speech in a Dutch court over comments he made about Moroccans living in the country.
"How do we even know there's a woman under this Islamic textile?" said PVV lawmaker Machiel de Graaf.
"It might as well be a well-trained jihadist who completed his training in Raqqa of course," he said in a parliamentary debate last week.
France introduced a ban on women wearing the burka in 2011, or risk a €150 fine, resulting in some 1,500 arrests in the past five years.
The European Court of Human Rights in 2014 backed the French ban, rejecting arguments that outlawing full-face veils breaches religious freedom.
Belgium and some parts of Switzerland have followed France's lead and similar bans are being considered in other European countries.
This summer some French towns also controversially banned burkinis, the full-body Islamic swimsuit.
Well done to the Dutch.
Ideally I don't like the state regulating this sort of thing but on the other hand the state has willfully ignored the wishes of the electorate in allowing huge numbers of these people into our countries therefore the power of the state must now be used to correct the wrongs and force assimilation of those already here and banish 'multiculturalism' from public life.
It goes to show though, doesn't it? The PVV/Wilders leading in the polls and controlling the narrative. :)
Thoughts?
