ianstone
04-30-2010, 08:07 AM
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01034/burke_280_1034890a.jpg
Ban ... Belgian parliament in burka crackdown
Belgium first to ban the burka
By VINCE SOODIN
Published: Today
BELGIUM has become the first European country to impose a full ban on wearing a burka.
Women will face jail for hiding their faces in public after the country's parliament approved a draft proposal — set to be law by July.
Centre-Right MP Daniel Bacquelaine said last night: "The notion of recognising people in the street is essential to maintain public order.
"It's also a question of human dignity. The full face veil turns a woman into a walking prison."
It means anyone will be banned from covering their face in a public place, including the street, shops, offices, schools and hospitals.
Women will be fined £110 for the first offence.
If they refuse to pay or are caught a second time, they can be jailed for a week.
It is estimated up to 400 of the country's 280,000 Muslims wear the burka in public.
The move comes as other countries consider bringing in similar legislation.
In Switzerland, voters recently supported a ban on the construction of new minarets (tall spires on mosques), while France is preparing to vote in July on its own law banning Islamic headwear.
Under French proposals, women would be fined up to £600 for hiding their faces, and be 'unveiled' at a police station so they could be identified.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2954404/Belgium-first-to-ban-the-burka.html#ixzz0maGskmBX
Common sense finally triumphs
Ban ... Belgian parliament in burka crackdown
Belgium first to ban the burka
By VINCE SOODIN
Published: Today
BELGIUM has become the first European country to impose a full ban on wearing a burka.
Women will face jail for hiding their faces in public after the country's parliament approved a draft proposal — set to be law by July.
Centre-Right MP Daniel Bacquelaine said last night: "The notion of recognising people in the street is essential to maintain public order.
"It's also a question of human dignity. The full face veil turns a woman into a walking prison."
It means anyone will be banned from covering their face in a public place, including the street, shops, offices, schools and hospitals.
Women will be fined £110 for the first offence.
If they refuse to pay or are caught a second time, they can be jailed for a week.
It is estimated up to 400 of the country's 280,000 Muslims wear the burka in public.
The move comes as other countries consider bringing in similar legislation.
In Switzerland, voters recently supported a ban on the construction of new minarets (tall spires on mosques), while France is preparing to vote in July on its own law banning Islamic headwear.
Under French proposals, women would be fined up to £600 for hiding their faces, and be 'unveiled' at a police station so they could be identified.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2954404/Belgium-first-to-ban-the-burka.html#ixzz0maGskmBX
Common sense finally triumphs