Dutch MPs vote to ban the burka in public places

Dutch MPs on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to ban the Islamic full-face burka from some public places such as schools and hospitals, the latest such move in a European country.

“The law is adopted,” said the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Khadija Arib, referring to legislation which will also ban burkas, and face coverings just with eye-slits, from public transport.

The motion “to ban all clothing which completely covers the face” from government buildings was approved by 132 members in the 150-seat house, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s ruling Liberal-Labour coalition.

It backed the legislation due to the “necessity to be able to interact face-to-face, for instance in places where public services are performed and safety must be guaranteed,” the government said.

Those flouting the ban would face a fine of up to €410 (around $430).

Safety equipment such as helmets or full-face protection while working, playing sport or “during a festive or cultural event” is not however included in the ban.

Supporting the ban was the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) of firebrand politician Geert Wilders, who is leading opinion polls ahead of March elections.

“How do we even know there’s a woman under this Islamic textile?” said PVV lawmaker Machiel de Graaf.

“It might as well be a well-trained jihadist who completed his training in Raqqa of course,” he said in a parliamentary debate last week.

Public newscaster NOS said only about 150 women in The Netherlands wear the burqa, most of them only occasionally.

And MP Tunahan Kuzu, who vehemently fought against the draft legislation, said freedom of expression allowed people “to be who they are and dress how they want”. “It is reprehensible to exclude these women and isolate them because of a subject anxiety among certain citizens,” he said.

Several women attended last week’s parliamentary debate dressed in burkas.