Belgium Bans People Wearing Burqas in Public

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The law would ban any clothing that obscures the identity of the wearer in places like parks and on the street.

Got that in Germany since 1985. They call it "Vermummungsverbot" over there. Only apples to participants of demonstrations, though.

[sandinista! 1,816]

back in march, the council of europe's rights commissioner warned against this becoming law.

The top rights official at the Council of Europe on Monday 8 March rejected the notion of banning Muslim burqa and niqab garments. Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg noted in a written statement marking International Women’s Day:

Those who have argued for a general ban of the burqa and the niqab have not managed to show that these garments in any way undermine democracy, public safety, order or morals. The fact that a very small number of women wear such clothing has made proposals in such a direction even less convincing.

Nor has it been possible to prove that these women in general are victims of more gender repression than others. Those who have been interviewed in the media have presented a diversity of religious, political and personal arguments for their decision to dress themselves as they do. There may of course be cases where they are under undue pressure – but it is not shown that a ban would be welcomed by these women.

http://legalift.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/europe-rights-commissioner-cautions-against-burqa-ban/

he goes on:

Two rights in the Convention are particularly relevant. One is the right to respect for one’s private life and personal identity (Article 8). The other is the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief “in worship, teaching, practice and observance” (Article 9).

Both articles specify that these human rights can only be subject to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are notably necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/Viewpoints/100308_en.asp

he makes some very good points in the rest of his statement as well.

Edited May 2, 2010 by sandinista!

[Danno 1,228]

To me the interesting thing to note about this is that Belgium is in the midst of breaking into two nations.

IF you put THe Muslim factor aside for a moment.

Belgium, a country which is divided between the Dutch speaking to the north and the French to the south..... and the severe stress which is dividing this country at this very moment, only a loon would imagine introducing large numbers of a third or fourth group of peoples would end well.

The Burqa ban is a first step, not a last.

[SuperDuper! 230]

This topic is designed to stir controversy. Why stir the pot, sir?