Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The "Tolerant" Dutch Consider a Ban on Burqas
Shock of shocks - the Dutch, who enjoy the most liberal society in Europe, have had it with Muslims, and want to pass a ban on burqas.
Of course, Muslims are not happy.
Dutch consider burqa ban to Muslim dismay
When the "tolerant" Dutch want to crack down on Muslims, you know that Europe may finally be waking up to this threat in their midst.
Shock of shocks - the Dutch, who enjoy the most liberal society in Europe, have had it with Muslims, and want to pass a ban on burqas.
Of course, Muslims are not happy.
Dutch consider burqa ban to Muslim dismay
If the Netherlands becomes the first European country to ban the burqa and other Muslim face veils this month, Hope says she'll resort to wearing a surgical mask to dress in accordance with her religious beliefs.
"I'll wear one of those things they wore during the SARS epidemic if I have to," said the Dutch-born Muslim, one of about 50 women in the Netherlands who wear the head-to-toe burqa or the niqab, a face veil that conceals everything but the eyes.
"I'm very practical," the 22-year-old added.
Last December, parliament voted to forbid women from wearing the burqa or any Muslim face coverings in public, justifying the move in part as a security measure.
The cabinet is awaiting the results of a study into the legality of such a ban under European human rights laws, before making its final decision. The results are expected in the second half of this month.
"This is an enormous victory for traditional Dutch decency," said Geert Wilders, the populist member of parliament who first proposed the burqa ban, after hearing parliament had backed it.
"The burqa is hostile to women, and medieval. For a woman to walk around on the streets completely covered is an insult to everyone who believes in equal rights."
The Dutch may have been among the first to legalize cannabis, prostitution and euthanasia -- earning them a reputation for tolerance -- but they are now in the process of imposing some of Europe's toughest entry and integration laws.
When the "tolerant" Dutch want to crack down on Muslims, you know that Europe may finally be waking up to this threat in their midst.
