Belgium set to ban Islamic full veil

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 1.4.10
Publication Date 01/04/2010
Content Type

Article reports that Belgium is poised to be the first western European country to ban the full Islamic veil after a parliamentary committee unanimously backed the move, March 2010. The move must be approved by the whole parliament for it to become law.

A Belgian debate and vote on whether to ban the wearing of the full-face Islamic veil in public was due to take place on the 22 April 2010 but was thrown into doubt by political turmoil in Belgium as the government resigned on that day.

However, on the 29 April 2010 Belgium's lower house of parliament voted to ban the wearing of full Islamic veils such as the burqa in public, paving the way for Belgium to become the first country in Europe to enforce such a ban.

Related Links
BBC News, 31.3.10: Belgian committee votes for full Islamic veil ban http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8597142.stm
ESO: Background information: Five European states back burka ban http://www.europeansources.info/record/five-european-states-back-burka-ban/
Deutsche Welle, 31.3.10: Belgian lawmakers set to ban the burqa http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5417966,00.html
France24, 1.4.10: Belgian politicians take first key step to ban the burqa http://www.france24.com/en/20100331-belgium-burqa-ban-parliamentary-committee-muslim-veil
ESO: Background information: France stops short of full ban on burqa http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-stops-short-of-full-ban-on-burqa/
Deutsche Welle, 30.4.10: Belgium votes to ban burqa http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5521903,00.html
BBC News, 30.4.10: Belgian lawmakers pass burka ban http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8652861.stm
France24, 29.4.10: Belgian lawmakers vote to ban full Islamic veil in public http://www.france24.com/en/20100429-belgium-lawmakers-vote-ban-full-islamic-veil-public-burqa-europe
BBC News, 22.4.10: Belgium veil ban debate in doubt amid political crisis http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8636605.stm
France24, 22.4.10: Belgium to impose ban on full veil as France prepares similar bill http://www.france24.com/en/20100422-belgium-lawmakers-set-impose-blanket-ban-islamic-burqa-veil
Libération, 22.4.10: First European burqa bans (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/236921-first-european-burqa-bans
EurActiv, 30.4.10: Belgian lawmakers outlaw burqa in EU first http://www.euractiv.com/en/culture/belgian-lawmakers-outlaw-burqa-eu-first-news-492020
Spiegel Online International, 30.4.10: Divided Country Finds Consensus on Islamic Veils http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,692212,00.html
Spiegel Online International: Special Report: Muslims in Europe http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/

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