The Dutch debate the burqa — and ban it

The Dutch cabinet planned to introduce a partial ban on the wearing of Islamic burqas in public buildings and on public transport in May 2015. Articles discuss the reactions for and against in The Netherlands.

The government said it had 'tried to find a balance between people’s freedom to wear the clothes they want and the importance of mutual and recognisable communication'. It said the cabinet 'sees no reason for a general ban that would apply to all public places'.

News sources in August 2015 reported that debates about the banning of burquas began in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Dutch consider burka ban as price for coalition http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-consider-burka-ban-as-price-for-coalition/

ESO: Background information: European rights court upholds French 'burqa ban' http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-rights-court-upholds-french-burqa-ban/

Dutch News.nl, 22.05.15: Cabinet plans limited ban on burqas in public buildings http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/05/cabinet-plans-limited-ban-on-burqas-in-public-buildings/

The Guardian, 22.05.15: Dutch cabinet approves partial ban on Islamic veil in public areas http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/22/netherlands-islamic-veil-niqab-ban-proposal-dutch-cabinet

Lietuvos rytas, 14.08.15: Lietuvos rytas (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE168102-Burqa-ban-in-Lithuania-would-be-cynical

Latvijas Sabiedriskie mediji, 13.08.15: Latvian debate on burqa ban pointless (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE168056-Latvian-debate-on-burqa-ban-pointless

Eesti Päevaleht, 11.08.15: Estonia's burqa debate mere diversion tactics (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/results/archiv_article/ARTICLE167884-Estonia-s-burqa-debate-mere-diversion-tactics

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