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Cabinet says curb sought on security grounds; Netherlands has 1M Muslims
BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 49 minutes ago
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Dutch government, facing re-election, said Friday it plans to draw up legislation "as soon as possible" banning burqas and other clothing that covers a person's entire face in public places.
"The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing — including the burqa — is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens," Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said in a statement.
Basing the order on security concerns apparently was intended to respond to warnings that outlawing clothing like the burqa, worn by some Muslim women, could violate the constitutional guarantee against religious discrimination.
In the past, a majority of the Dutch parliament has said it would approve a ban on burqas, but opinion polls in advance of national elections next Wednesday suggested a shift to the left, and it is unclear if a majority in the new parliament would still back the ban.
Once the Cabinet drafts a bill, it is sent to the 150-member legislature for enactment.
The main Dutch Muslim organization CMO has been critical of any possible ban. The idea was "an overreaction to a very marginal problem" because hardly any Dutch women wear burqas anyway, said Ayhan Tonca of the CMO. "It's just ridiculous."
Around 1 million Muslims live in the Netherlands, about 6 percent of the 16 million population, but only a few hundred are believed to regularly wear a burqa.
After France banned the wearing of headscarves in public schools, the Dutch government decided to leave that question up to individual schools. Most allow headscarves.
The city of Utrecht has cut some welfare benefits to unemployed women who insist on wearing burqas to job interviews. The city claimed the women were using the burqa to avoid working, since they knew they wouldn't be hired.
BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 49 minutes ago
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The Dutch government, facing re-election, said Friday it plans to draw up legislation "as soon as possible" banning burqas and other clothing that covers a person's entire face in public places.
"The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing — including the burqa — is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens," Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said in a statement.
Basing the order on security concerns apparently was intended to respond to warnings that outlawing clothing like the burqa, worn by some Muslim women, could violate the constitutional guarantee against religious discrimination.
In the past, a majority of the Dutch parliament has said it would approve a ban on burqas, but opinion polls in advance of national elections next Wednesday suggested a shift to the left, and it is unclear if a majority in the new parliament would still back the ban.
Once the Cabinet drafts a bill, it is sent to the 150-member legislature for enactment.
The main Dutch Muslim organization CMO has been critical of any possible ban. The idea was "an overreaction to a very marginal problem" because hardly any Dutch women wear burqas anyway, said Ayhan Tonca of the CMO. "It's just ridiculous."
Around 1 million Muslims live in the Netherlands, about 6 percent of the 16 million population, but only a few hundred are believed to regularly wear a burqa.
After France banned the wearing of headscarves in public schools, the Dutch government decided to leave that question up to individual schools. Most allow headscarves.
The city of Utrecht has cut some welfare benefits to unemployed women who insist on wearing burqas to job interviews. The city claimed the women were using the burqa to avoid working, since they knew they wouldn't be hired.
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