Belgium panel approves banning burqa

A TOP committee of Belgian lawmakers voted to impose a nationwide ban on wearing the Islamic burqa in public, pavingthe way for the first clampdown of its kind in Europe.

The federal parliament’s home affairs committee voted unanimously to endorse a proposal from liberal members to ban any clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified, including the full-face niqab and burqa.

Officials say the draft law will probably be put to a vote of the full house on April 22.

“This is a very strong signal that is being sent to Islamists,” French-speaking liberal deputy Denis Ducarme told the assembly in Brussels.

He said he was “proud that Belgium would be the first country in Europe which dares to legislate on this sensitive matter”.

“We have to free women of this burden,” said his colleague Corinne De Parmentier.

The head of the liberal Reformist Movement, Daniel Bacquelaine, said: “Just like dwarf throwing – even if it’s on a voluntary basis – the burqa is contrary to the dignity of women. It’s a walking prison.”

If endorsed, the vote could see the ban imposed in streets, public gardens and sports grounds or buildings “meant for public use or to provide services” to the public, according to the bill.

Exceptions would be allowed for certain festivities like carnivals if municipal authorities decide to grant them.

The move comes amid controversy in the kingdom over the wearing of Muslim religious symbols in public places.

A Muslim mathematics teacher at a municipal school has been given until the middle of next week to return to her classroom after a protracted court battle to stop her wearing a simple veil there or face losing her job.

In June last year, a Belgian lawmaker of Turkish origin was sworn in at the Brussels regional parliament wearing an Islamic headscarf in a first for the country.

At the time opponents of the veil distributed flyers at the entry to the assembly building, but they did not disturb proceedings as 26-year-old Mahinur Ozdemir was triumphantly sworn in to applause and camera flashes.

Concern among the traditionally Roman Catholic public about the impact of Islam has also grown over a request from the Muslim community for more women police should they be needed to search or question female followers of Islam.

Controversy has also raged in a number ofEuropean countries inrecent years over the wearing of Muslim veils and other religious garments in state or public institutions.

On Tuesday, France’s top administrative body ruled that there were no legal grounds for a complete ban on the wearing of full-face veils in public, but it said the burqa could be outlawed in some places for security reasons.

Staunchly secular France passed a law in 2004 banning the wearing of headscarves or any other “conspicuous” religious symbols in state schools.

In The Netherlands, several draft laws concerning the wearing of the veil have been mooted, including measures which would ban the garments for teachers and civil servants.