Dutch queen clashes with anti-Muslim party after she wears headscarf on visit to Oman mosque

Dutch Queen Beatrix took on the fiery leader of her country's anti-Muslim party today by dismissing as 'nonsense' his criticism of her decision to wear a headscarf during a recent visit to a mosque.

The queen made her unusually forthright comment to Dutch reporters covering her state visit this week to the United Arab Emirates and Oman, National broadcaster NOS reported.

Her comments were not recorded, but Beatrix told reporters she wore the headscarf in the UAE on Sunday, and again on a visit to an Oman mosque today to show religious respect

The popular monarch was responding to questions from reporters about parliamentary questions filed by anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, who called the monarch's decision to cover her head on a visit to a mosque in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 'a sad exhibition' that 'legitimizes the oppression of women.'

It is rare for the queen to respond so directly - and dismissively - to criticism from a political party in this nation where the unelected head of state's role is largely ceremonial.

Wilders is a staunch opponent of Islamic head scarves and head-to-toe burqa robes for women. He is not alone in the Netherlands, where the government has announced plans to ban burqas.

Concur on the reciprocity, I’ve donned a kippa at the wailing wall and doffed my shoes in numerous places, heck if I don’t at home, my wife being Japanese, I have to make a hasty retreat.

That being said some cultures feel you should make others feel at home by acting in the manner of their homeland, while others feel the visitor should adapt. I’ve seen Americans act both ways because we have such varied family traditions.

The food issue is always the hardest for me- I know I’ve inadvertantly offended multiple cultures by forgetting vegetarian, no beef, no pork, no what have you... I just scratch my head and try to
Ale do after an apology... No ones perfect, but some feel they don’t need to reciprocate and then I let them know that when jaws in such and such I was expected to adhere and usually when they realize I’m not a roof who hasn’t even tried they either express outrage to cover their mistake (rare) or beg forgiveness for their assumption.

In china you don’t clean your plate or it’s an insult, in Japan you do, and in moms house you’d be lucky to keep your siblings from your own plate to scarf it down.

Are you sure he’s wearing that kippah? It looks like it’s on someone else’s head. Maybe I’m wrong but it looks like someone is standing next to him.

Maybe it’s a small kippah.

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