Belgium bans burkas

[Hitman]

Belgium became the first European country to impose a full ban on wearing a burka last night.
Its parliament approved a draft law which states women can be jailed for hiding their faces in public.
The bill - which must be rubber-stamped by the Belgian senate - is set to become law by July.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...draft-law.html

Good on Belguim... I was surprised... should be done here. The covering of the face in public shouldn't be allowed. I'm sure people would object to me walking to the shops in my balaclava.

If it was done here though, the EU's human rights ******** would stop it no doubt.

[BeanEgg]

That's a start, only because people could be intimidated by it.

Also you said: "If it was done here though, the EU's human rights ******** would stop it no doubt."
Belgium is in the EU but the human rights act didn't stop it? So why would they stop it in the UK? :S

[Dan2nd]

It really wouldn't bother me if it was banned in the UK or not.

[Catzsy]

Well sometimes it makes sense - you can't wear a motorcyle helmet in a bank so I guess a burka would come under this category. I do not see why it has been banned outright though. In public buildings it makes sense. No different to people respecting other traditions as removing shoes before going into religious buildings.

[ifuseekamy]

Belgium is like EU headquarters. Probably the most insignificant country in all of Europe, ironically.

[GommeInc]

It's amazing they hadn't done it sooner, Belgium has that sort of air about it :/ It's a decent move, they are pretty intimidating and suggest women are just objects. In Europe, women are not objects, and seeing as the wearing of such garments appears to not be related to religion, it's quite a modest move. Women have rights here, while the political viewpoint in the "originating country" is quite different. Then again, this could be a counter-attack on the idea that people with such beliefs shouldn't have the right to such beliefs

[Tintinnabulate]

I thought it was banned in France aswell? :S

[Hitman]

That's a start, only because people could be intimidated by it.

Also you said: "If it was done here though, the EU's human rights ******** would stop it no doubt."
Belgium is in the EU but the human rights act didn't stop it? So why would they stop it in the UK? :S

Indeed, I believe it says something about the EU may possibly intervene.

Well sometimes it makes sense - you can't wear a motorcyle helmet in a bank so I guess a burka would come under this category. I do not see why it has been banned outright though. In public buildings it makes sense. No different to people respecting other traditions as removing shoes before going into religious buildings.

If I was walking the street in a balaclava or my face totally covered I am sure you'd feel a bit worried. Sames goes for the burka...

It is different that way though: taking off shoes is not the same as concealing your face.

It's amazing they hadn't done it sooner, Belgium has that sort of air about it :/ It's a decent move, they are pretty intimidating and suggest women are just objects. In Europe, women are not objects, and seeing as the wearing of such garments appears to not be related to religion, it's quite a modest move. Women have rights here, while the political viewpoint in the "originating country" is quite different. Then again, this could be a counter-attack on the idea that people with such beliefs shouldn't have the right to such beliefs

Yes, I don't like seeing them... it's stupid though... some women wear them at my college and they get past security no problem... somebody with no ID badge won't get in. I could put on a burka and just get in... poses a security risk. Things are too PC to contest them.

I thought it was banned in France aswell? :S

Er, yes I believe they were looking into it... not sure if it went through.

[hah]

could they not just wear helmets or balaclavas to replace it

[Hitman]

could they not just wear helmets or balaclavas to replace it

The law probably prohibits the covering of the face, which includes those two and the burka.