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Europe
Partial Dutch ban on face-covering clothing comes into force
2019-08-02
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A new Dutch law has come into force banning face-covering clothing - including the burqa and niqab worn by conservative Moslem women - on public transport, in government buildings and at health and education institutions.

The Netherlands, long seen as a bastion of tolerance and religious freedom, is the latest Europe
...the land mass occupying the space between the English Channel and the Urals, also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
an country to introduce such a ban, following the likes of La Belle France, Germany, Belgium, Austria and Denmark.

Moslem and rights groups have voiced opposition to the law - formally called the "partial ban on face-covering clothing" - and an Islamic political party in Rotterdam has said it will pay the 150-euro ($167) fines for anybody caught breaking it.

Very few women in the Netherlands wear a burqa or niqab and it is unclear how strenuously the law will be enforced.
The Times of Israel adds:
Between 200 and 400 women are estimated to wear a burqa or niqab in the country of 17 million people.

The Dutch legislation was passed in June 2018 after more than a decade of political debate on the subject. The far-right politician Geert Wilders had proposed the face-covering veil ban back in 2005.

"From now on the wearing of clothing which covers the face is banned in educational facilities, public institutions and buildings, as well as hospitals and public transport," the Dutch interior ministry said in a statement.

It added that it was important in such public places to be recognized and seen, which besides the burqa, also bans a face-covering helmet or hood.
Posted by:Fred

#5  I keep reverting to visualizing stuff in my own narrow societal context... Sigh ! I never factored in the studied politeness of western bureacracy.

Netherlands : "Mam ? Please remove the headgear/ No, mam, you're not coming in like that."

India : [runs up to lady and rips off veil] "This is NOT allowed. It is NOT, it is NOT, NOT allowed." [punctuates each NOT with a tight slap]
Posted by: Dron66046   2019-08-02 14:19  

#4  But how do you enforce such a ban ?

Stop them at the entrance and — it being the Netherlands — politely offer the choice of baring their face or leaving. Some spokesperson for hospitals and public transport has already announced they won’t be enforcing it, but for the rest it should be easily enough done.
Posted by: trailing wife   2019-08-02 14:08  

#3  The Netherlands, long afflicted with a surfeit of bearded "women"....etc
Posted by: Mercutio   2019-08-02 12:30  

#2  Usually, comments on Rantburg are well thought out...
Posted by: Ebboluns Shong6204   2019-08-02 11:36  

#1  But how do you enforce such a ban ? Unless covering the face an offense for which you can be detained. Only that would work.

Okay, you can deny entry in malls, shops, etc. but you can't run up to women in public and rip their veils off can you ? I don't see how the cops are expected to do it. It should be supplemented by shuttering businesses that sell burqas.
Posted by: Dron66046   2019-08-02 02:31  

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