Burqas banned in Dutch government buildings
Dutch NewsA ban on wearing face-covering garments such as a burqa or niqab in government buildings, schools and on public transport comes into effect in the Netherlands on Thursday. The ban has been 13 years in the making and dates back to the time Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam PVV party propped up a minority government formed by Mark Rutte’s VVD and the Christian Democrats. ‘We never asked for this law and the practice has never caused problems.’ Pedro Peters of the public transport association told the NRC. We are not going to stop trams and metros because someone is wearing a burqa or motorbike helmet.’ The police have also said they will ‘not drive after a tram in which someone is sitting who is breaking the ban on face-covering clothing,’ NOS reported. In some parts of the country the police offer veiled women an ‘alternative location’ where they can take off their veil, but this will no longer be possible with the new legislation, the home affairs ministry told the NRC.