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Belgium: Ban on Veil Passes |
Legislators in Belgium voted almost unanimously to ban full face coverings for Muslim women on Thursday, April 29th. Women will be allowed to wear the hijab which only covers the hair but in public places women will be forbidden to wear any veil or scarf which covers their face or stops them from being identified. The move comes after tensions between Muslim and non-Muslim Europeans reached unprecedented levels. A number of other European countries are considering similar bans and prohibitions against the Muslim community that are being widely decried by members of the Islamic community and human rights groups.
In Belgium, those who violate the ban could be fined $20 to $35 or imprisoned for up to seven days. If Muslim women receive police permission, they may be granted an exception to wear the full face covering during certain religious festivities. Those in support of the bill said it was not a move against Islam, but rather for public safety.
“Belgium veil ban passes with widespread support,” Christian Science Monitor, 4/30/2010; www.csmonitor.com.
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