Lower House of Belgian Parliament Passes Burqa Ban

According to reports from RTT News and CNN, yesterday Belgium's Chamber of Deputies-- the lower house of the Belgian Parliament-- passed a bill that would ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public places. More precisely, the legislation bans clothing that would hide the identity of the wearer in any place that provides services to the public or is meant for public use. This includes public transportation, streets, parks and sports grounds, though authorities could grant exceptions for special events such as carnivals. Violators would face a fine of 15 to 25 Euros and up to a week in jail. The Chamber of Deputies vote was 136 in favor, none opposed, and two abstentions. The bill now goes to the Belgian Senate where final approval is expected. This would make Belgium the first country in Europe to ban the burqa, though France is moving ahead with similar legislation. (See prior posting.) A Muslim political leader in Belgium warns that passage of the law could have the opposite effect from that desired. It may encourage more women to wear the burqa.