The London Daily News

01 April, 2010 10:11 (GMT +00:00)

Belgium moves to ban burqa and niqab, other European states to follow

- Rare show of unity between linguistically divided halves of the country over burqa ban vote

News Desk

Belgium is leading the way amongst European member states, with a move to ban the oppressive burqa and niqab in public, a move likely to provoke other countries in the European Union follow the example set by the Belgium federal government.

The home affairs committee in the Belgium Parliament passed unanimously a vote to ban the "partial or total covering of faces in public places".

The Guardian quotes Belgium MP Denis Duncarne who said:

"I am proud that Belgium would be the first country in Europe which dares legislate on this sensitive matter".

"It is necessary for that the law forbids the wearing of clothes that totally mask or enclose an individual. Wearing a burqa in public is not compatible with an open liberal tolerant society".

France and Holland are believed to be watching the new law Belgium with a similar law likely to be passed in the respective parliaments.

The support for the ban on the burqa and niqab was "cross party" and The Guardian described the vote as a "rare show of unity between linguistically divided halves of the country".

The ban of the burqa and niqab is likely to be law in the summer with a punishment of up to seven days in prison for wearing full body burqa or face masking niqab.

With over 500,000 Muslims in Belgium there have been no serious problems recorded of women wearing burqas or niqabs, in comparison to London were it has become a norm in certain parts to see women wearing the burqa or niqab.

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