It was reported that Belgium was set on Thursday to slap a ban on wearing the Islamic burqa in public, the first such clampdown in Europe, just a day after the French government promised a similar law.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered parliament to debate a law banning women from wearing full-face Islamic veils in public, officials say.
Last year he went onto the extent of saying that such veils oppressed women and were not welcome in France.
Mr Sarkozy said the full veils "do not pose a problem in a religious sense, but threaten the dignity of women", Mr Chatel was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. This proposal has provoked intense debate about religious freedom in a secular society, as well as the position of Muslims in France.
However, the country's highest administrative body has suggested such a law might be unconstitutional.
"Bans like this lead to a lose-lose situation," said Judith Sunderland, senior Western Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch."At a time when Muslims in Europe feel more vulnerable than ever, the last thing needed is a ban like this, treating pious Muslim women like criminals won't help integrate them", she added.
There are several types of headscarves and veils for Muslim women - those that cover the face being the niqab and the burka. In France, the niqab is the version most commonly worn.
The interior ministry reports that only 1,900 women wear full veils in France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority.
These kinds of bans is an attempt to violate the rights of those who choose to wear the veil and do nothing to help those who are compelled to do so.
There is no evidence that wearing the full veil in public threatened public safety, public order, health, morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
2 comments:
woah. what a time to post this. what i have to say is not related to the burqa/veil issue but its coherent with the topic of muslim's sentiment in the west.
Over the BBC i read this news today where it said that some islamist group have warned the creators of the famous animated television series 'Southpark' from releasing an episode which makes fun of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The warning issue has been pretty serious.
I just ask, what cant these people respect the seriousness of the issue. I mean come on people. If u are not religious, there are some people in the world who are and who take their prophets seriously. Its sad when one has to come down to threats to make these 'business tycoons' realize where they are crossing the line. Just check out the link below. U will be disappointed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8636455.stm
They are looking at the niqab with a completely different perspective...according to them it subjugates women and snatches their freedom, what they fail to realise is the fact that it's a personal choice. They are happy wearing the naqab, then where does the question of oppression come in!!
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