Belgian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to ban the wearing of the Islamic burqa in public, paving the way for the first clampdown of its kind in Europe.
In the lower house of federal parliament, 136 deputies voted to ban nationwide clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified, including the full-face niqab and burqa. There were two abstentions. No one voted against.
The ban will be imposed in streets, public gardens and sports grounds or buildings "meant for public use or to provide services" to the public, according to the text of the bill.
Exceptions could be allowed for certain festivities like carnivals if municipal authorities decide to grant them.
Fine
People who ignore the new law could face a fine of 15-25 euros and/or a jail sentence of up to seven days, unless they have police permission to wear the garments.
All governing parties and the opposition agreed on the move - most on the basis that people cannot be recognised wearing the clothing. The upper house of parliament has two weeks to raise any objections to the decision.
"It's not about introducing any form of discrimination," Daniel Bacquelaine, head of the liberal MR party in the house told the lawmakers, but for cases when such clothing was "aimed at stopping people from being identified."
Controversial
Controversy has also raged elsewhere in Europe over the wearing of Muslim veils and other religious garments in state or public institutions. President Nicolas Sarkozy has declared the burka not welcome in France, calling it an affront to French values that denigrates women. France's National Assembly will begin debate in early July on a bill banning Muslim women from wearing the full Islamic veil.
A final draft of the legislation outlawing the face-covering veil from all public spaces as well as state institutions is set to be approved by the cabinet on 19 May.
Staunchly secular France passed a law in 2004 banning the wearing of headscarves or any other "conspicuous" religious symbols in state schools. Lawmakers were defiant in the face of claims they could face reprisals.
Source: AFP/ANP
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Good riddance! This really is a matter of public safety and security Women who electively wear the burqa need counseling not jail time. I mean for God's sake you must bear your face in Mecca ( the holiest of holy)!
"THOU shalt NOT take the NAME of the LORD THY GOD in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his NAME in vain." ten commandments ~ BIBLE swearing, the "modern media repulsion" is worse than dropping dead flies into someones food. do not do it. thank you.
these compulsive, fearful, BOSSY, mutilated, women, need much more than "counseling". they need to be FREED from the evils of islam. Mecca is NOT a holy place. it is a place where the CONFORMISTS flock to be submissive to their terrorist, allah. the thought of allah terrorizes THEM, and they, terrorize the world. it's all about COMPULSIVE DISORDER. nobody talks about "allah LOVES you"....because that person is DEAD. he was just a TOOL. the "spirit" behind islam comes right straight out of hell. ALL those human beings need to be FREED from it.
they are flies on a sticky trap. NO offence. i've felt that way myself sometimes, that is WHY i know. YOU can be FREED~ PRAISE THE LORD JESUS!!
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