Saturday, November 18, 2006

E.U.: BANNING "HEAD TO TOE BAGS"

Dutch government looks set to pass ban on Muslim women wearing burqas in public

The Dutch Cabinet yesterday backed a proposal by the Immigration Minister to ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public. Other international responses to the veiling issue include: In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Tony Blair called niqab a "mark of separation" and former foreign secretary Jack Straw admitted he was uncomfortable communicating with women with veiled faces; France passed a law in 2004 that bans all signs of faith in public schools, including Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses; Germany has a law banning teachers from wearing headscarves in public schools; Turkey banned the headscarf in all public institutions, including universities; the Egyptian government discourages headscarves and veils.

Italy government seeks veil ban

Italy is to put forward draft new legislation to ban the Islamic veil that covers the face.
Vice-premier Francesco Rutelli says current laws are insufficient.


The niqab and the burka have aroused concerns, not least because Italy has a law - intended to foil terrorism - against wearing masks in public.

Mr Rutelli has now entered the debate, calling for a change in Italian law which would make the wearing of the niqab an offence.

"If you look at the laws that are currently in place, they're not sufficient," he said.

"We need a new law, one that respects people's rights in our society but at the same time makes it quite clear that it's not acceptable for people to cover their faces."

...

Moslem Reaction:

Muslims in Netherlands criticised proposal

Muslims in the Netherlands have criticised a government proposal to ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public places.

Muslim groups say a ban would make the country's one million Muslims feel victimised and alienated.

...

And here you have an NRO Symposium- - -An Unveiling Separate, but acceptable? on whether or not the niqab and or the burka should be banned...Several commentators share their thoughts on whether or not it should be banned, the majority opinion is that the niqab/burka/"head to toe bags" (my personal favorite name for it) indeed should be banned.

NRO Symposium Commentators:

-William J. Bennett

-Mona Charen

-Phyllis Chesler

-Andrew McCarthy

-Emanuele Ottolenghi

-Daniel Pipes

Read the whole thing...


Pertinent Links:

1) Dutch government looks set to pass ban on Muslim women wearing burqas in public

2) Italy government seeks veil ban

3) Muslims in Netherlands criticised proposal

4) An Unveiling - - - Separate, but acceptable? (NRO Symposium on whether or not the "head to toe" bags should be banned...)

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