Dutch Parliament Bans Burqa in Public Places

The Dutch Parliament has overwhelmingly voted to ban the wearing of burqas in certain public places such as hospitals, schools, and public transport. Out of 150 parliamentary representatives, 132 voted in favor of this law on Wednesday, December 1. The Dutch government had previously supported this law in the middle of last year, and the burqa ban is now awaiting approval from the Dutch Senate. However, wearing a burqa in the streets will not be prohibited. According to a report by AFP, under the approved law, public places, schools, hospitals, transport, and any other public location where 'face-to-face communication and security' are necessary will be required. If this law is finally approved, anyone who violates it by wearing a burqa could face a fine of up to 410 euros. A number of Dutch Muslim women went to Parliament last week to persuade representatives not to pass this law. The Freedom Party of the Netherlands, which is one of the anti-Islam parties in the country, is the main supporter of the burqa ban in public places. Geert Wilders, the leader of this party, currently has the highest chance of becoming the Prime Minister of the Netherlands next year. One representative from this party defended the burqa ban law by stating, 'How can we know that someone hiding under a burqa is a woman?' However, one opposing representative argued that 'freedom of expression allows people to be who they are and wear what they want.' Another representative stated, 'How do we know that someone dressed in long clothing and hiding under a burqa is not a trained jihadist from Raqqa, Syria?' The NOS network in the Netherlands estimates that about 150 women in this advanced and affluent European country wear burqas. Similar laws have previously been passed in France and Belgium.