fascist

Will the Netherlands ban the Burqa?

by Carin Tiggeloven, 22 December 2005

A majority in the Dutch parliament wants to prohibit wearing the burqa in public. It remains to be seen, however, whether the traditional Islamic garment, that covers the entire body, will disappear from Dutch streets. Integration Minister Rita Verdonk thinks a total ban might contravene the constitution. She is looking into the matter and will present the conclusions of her inquiry in January.

The minister calls the burqa a symbol of the repression of women: "Women do not need to be ashamed of their appearance." MP Geert Wilders agrees and thinks that, in these "uncertain times", it is important that people can be identified in public places.

The former conservative VVD politician, who now represents his own group in the Dutch parliament, cited these two reasons when he proposed a motion to prohibit the burka in public. He received support from two of the three government coalition parties (the conservative VVD and Christian Democrat CDA) and from the LPF opposition party, which was founded by Pim Fortuyn who was murdered in 2002.

No covered faces
The Christian Democrats do not want to wait for the integration minister's inquiry. CDA MP Wim van der Camp: "We voted in support of the motion because we want to clearly tell the government that people's faces should be visible in public, whether this concerns a burqa, a crash helmet or a balaclava. Normal people do not walk around with covered faces."

In the Netherlands, few women wear the burqa and opponents of the ban ask why the Dutch parliament is making so much fuss over the issue. Lawyer Famile Arslan: "We are probably talking about less than 100 women in a population of 16 million. What I am concerned about is if it starts with the burqa, where will it end?" Arslan fears "another regulation aimed against Muslims".

Religious right
Freedom of religion guarantees in the Dutch constitution appear to back the right of Muslim women to dress according to the requirements of their religion. Haci Karacaer, the director of Milli Görüs, a conservative Turkism Muslim organisation:

"I agree that women who walk around in the burqa do not have a great future in this country but I think they should be allowed to dress as they want in a constitutional state. People should have the right to choose to exclude themselves from society."

How many women wear the burqa voluntarily is a contentious question.

Curbs on religious freedom
Despite the problems, a Dutch ban on the burqa remains a possibility. Dutch law can limit the freedom of religion guaranteed under the constitution 'in order to protect public health, in the interest of traffic and to counter or prevent disorder ' (art 6.2). Some years ago, the Equality Commission supported a school in banning the Islamic veil from its premises. According to the commission, the veil hindered communication between teacher and pupil and in addition argued that the authorities should be able to identify who is present in school buildings.

The Free University in Amsterdam is another institution which does not allow students to wear the veil or the burqa on its premises. However, it has also banned clothing that 'does not show respect to fellow humans', such as Lonsdale brand shirts and trousers which are associated with right-wing extremism in the Netherlands.

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Hey I'm not gone, just busy with packing and painting (at this stage) and doing .. stuff .. elsewhere :-)

I am not a supporter of the Burqa ban.
I have a lot to say about 'the Muslims' (to generalize) but I don't want my government to interfere in these issues.
We, "the people" (yahoo!), can deal with these cultural aspects ourselves, and if we can't we deserve what's coming for us.
I generally dislike government interference, but when it comes to these Muslim issues I want them to back off even further.

 
Besides, up till now most extremists who attacked us were youngsters who look relatively 'normal', who studied, and were somewhat active in this society. (the murderer of Theo van Gogh was a social worker at one time .. ).
Burqa wearing women are not the main source for concern when it comes to safety.

I dislike the Burqa.
I do think most of those ladies wear it by choice though, and I don't believe they are forced in some way.
The repressed women are out there, but they are not these penguins.
It's not sad, it's not dangerous,   it    is   silly  !
When you see one walking, you could run towards her like the salesman in Groundhog Day; "Fatima ?? .. is that you ?? . .oooooh f a t i m a !  how long has it been girl ?! .. ooooh fetching shoes, like really, for surrrre, bitching!!"
That would be a thing to do, but however it is just a silly thing :-)

The Government should leave the every day religious Muslim alone, but protect his or her rights.
Up till now it seems like Muslims and Left/right extremists have less rights than … I and my big mouth, for instance.
I dislike that, I want an open and fair battle!

It's easy to see why the burqa is a bad thing.  I think it's harder to see how one could make it illegal.  This is like one of those famous 'I disagree with what you say, but will defend your right to say it' things, except in this case it would be, 'I disagree with what you're wearing, but you have the right to wear it.' 

More interestingly, I shall remember not to wear either of my two Lonsdale tops if in the Netherlands.  Or perhaps I should, and see what happens!  Maybe I'd be invited to a burqa-burning ceremony!

A "when in Rome" strategy seems to be logical. How many times have we seen Christiane Amanpour wearing her little head and neck scarf while interviewing someone in Iraq or Afghanistan?  Didn't Laura Bush wear some hijabby type get-up when she visited a Palestinian mosque last year?

Assimilate already! Frankly, isn't it in the Muslims best interest regardless of intentions? If you truly wish to be a part of the European host country, it's a plus. And if you only want to bring it down, why, it's a good disguise.

Some things seem so obvious.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin