Immigration Belgian court set precdent in banning Islamic burka

[Maciamo]

Expatica : Court upholds city's ban on wearing Islamic burka

The Flemish city of Maaseik has won a court battle allowing it to maintain its ban on the wearing of an Islamic burka.

A magistrates court rejected an appeal on Monday lodged by Moroccan woman Khadija El Ouazzanik.

El Ouazzani was one of five women in Maaseik who wore a complete Islamic veil or burka on city streets.
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And the ruling is important nationwide, given the fact it is the first time that a Belgian court has banned a burka or niqab (a face veil up to the eyes).
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[Mycernius]

Is there any reason why they have decided to do this? I thought Belgium was a tolerant country when it came to other cultures and their dress.

 

[No-name]

Banning a Burka seems almost as bad as imposing a Burka.

I remember when some woman in Florida took her Driver's license picture wearing a veil. The Florida DMV finally insisted that she had to show her face on the identification.

 

[strongvoicesforward]

The burka is representative of oppression. It should be banned and I am happy to see it banned there -- eventhough I have no dealings with that country. I can only hope this religious paraphanalia`s banning spreads to other places.

 

[Revenant]

Eh? If women want to wear a face viel, and it harms none, then I don't see any point in banning it, or telling them they can't wear it cause 'I see it as religious oppression against you'. If they don't feel oppressed, then I don't see why we should take up a case against it, especially since it's just a piece of cloth.

 

[No-name]

I would rather that women not wear a Burka while driving... although if you wear the thing, you probably don't drive either. A veil that doesn't impair vision would be much better.

When I was a convenience store clerk, I hated to work Halloween, because you can't see the faces of the customers. Bank tellers probably feel the same way.

Are there any European Muslim women who can comment? I'd be interested in their take on this.

 

[RockLee]

Wow, Maaseik is like 15min driving from here. Didn't know about the whole situation

I think a burka is over the top, I think one's face should be visible to everybody. In this weather you can't really say it's fun to wear that stupid piece of cloth anyways !

 

[Maciamo]

I agree with the decision for several reasons :

1) the burka is often imposed on women and is a way for Muslim men to control Muslim women
2) I am against public display of religiousness, especially conspicuous ones in countries with no such tradition
3) wearing the burka (or just a veil) does not encourage integration of Muslim immigrant into Belgian society
4) some/many Belgian may feel ill at ease to have to see strong Muslim symbols at home, either because they fear Muslim immigration or because of the bad connotations linked to Islam since 9/11

 

[No-name]

I work in at an American high school and we have a pretty restrictive dress code. But I have never heard of a country with a dress code before.