Posted on 12/22/2005 7:01:56 AM PST by Pikamax
Netherlands considers burqa ban
The Dutch immigration minister says she will look into the legality of banning the burqa, the robes worn by some Muslim women to cover their bodies. Rita Verdonk made the pledge after a majority in parliament said it would support such a ban.
The proposal was put forward by independent politician Geert Wilders.
"That women should walk the streets in a totally unrecognisable manner is an insult to everyone who believes in equal rights," he said.
"This law is a comfort to moderate Muslims and will contribute to integration in the Netherlands," he added in a statement.
His proposal is supported by two of the parties in the governing centre-right coalition, as well as the opposition right-wing party founded by the late Pim Fortuyn.
Mrs Verdonk did not say when she might complete her investigation.
If the Netherlands does decide to ban the burqa, it will be the first European country to do so.
that will cause some riots
Oh boy...the poop will hit the fan for sure!
Ridiculous... The country that allows anything won't allow burqas?
Burning Car Alert!
I think this is very telling about Europe and Freedom, they delude themselves..
They believe that they are above all this "Belief in a higher power" nonsense.
The Dutch have actually been the toughest on TROP. The are regularly rounding them up and deporting them back to their country of origin-something we should be doing.
Ahhhhh....Europe in the spring...
It's funny how the European leftists - who blast Bush for his alleged Christian intolerance and contempt for civil rights - propose laws that go way beyond anything that Bush or most American conservatives would think is tolerable. Bush is blasted for wiretaps of conversations with Al Quaeda operatives, yet the Euros propose banning traditional garb worn by innocent Muslims.
While I understand their rationale for wanting assimilation into Dutch culture, I think a government-imposed dress code is a really bad idea.
Until they stop ALL Muslim immigration, and deport every Muslim who is there, their efforts will be fruitless.
This goes for every other Western country as well.
How 'bout a ban on murdering, gang-raping, religious-violence-inciting extremists instead?
I disagree with the Burqa ban, now we wont be able to easily see who we should be keeping an extra eye on. I do agree with a ban on the total face covering like in extreme muslim countries.
This seems an infringement of freedom of religion. There may be reasons for the public good to ban it in particular instances, e.g., ID photos or school, where it would be disruptive, but in daily life, it seems to me an ethic of reasonable accommodation of religious belief should allow it.
Ban the burqa but let Islamonuts terrorize the country? That makes about as much sense as the airport body searching of 80 year old white haired grandmothers while 20 year old male Arabs breeze through the security line.
They could always leave if they don't like it.
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