Belgian lawmakers pass burka ban

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Belgium's lower house of parliament has voted for a law that would ban women from wearing the full Islamic face veil in public.

The law would ban any clothing that obscures the identity of the wearer in places like parks and on the street. No-one voted against it.

The law now goes to the Senate, where it may face challenges over its wording, which may delay it.
...
Only around 30 women wear this kind of veil in Belgium, out of a Muslim population of around half a million.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8652861.stm

[dipsydoodle]

1. Quite right

No different from not allowing kids wearing balaclavas in shopping centres really.

[hisownpetard]

Oh, I love baklavas

but they're so darn fattening!

[dipsydoodle]

7. Only just clicked that one

Back in the '60s most of my pals were Greek and Turkish Cyp's. Yes - lovely stuff. What's the other one which sounds like "gaddeeff" ? Kinda shredded wheat with honey and nuts.

[hisownpetard]

2. Oops.

[hisownpetard]

3. Delete - trigger finger! Time for bed.

[paulsby]

4. riiiiiight

because there is no difference between a privately owned shopping center and the entirety of "in public"

[dipsydoodle]

5. Our shopping centres

are classed as public places. I only used that as an example anyway.

[paulsby]

9. ours are to lesser or greater extent

or more specifically open to the public as invitees or licensees.

of course the private property owner, even in a place of public accomodation can be signficantly more restrictive. for example, they could prohibit the wearing of bathing suits that would be perfectly legal, if certainly inappropriate on a public street

[The Wizard]

6. They make a great disguise for bank robbery

or mugging.

[Democat]

8. Are you allowed to wear a ski mask?

Or a helmet when not riding a motorcycle? If not, then I don't see how this is that different.

[Flaneur]

10. Clearly an unneccesary law, but good for stoking bigotry...

...and winning all the bigot votes.

Only 30 women in the whole country wear the veil? And they need to pass a law? Right.