Belgium To Become Second European Country To Ban Burqa In Public Places

M&C reported yesterday that Belgium is about to become the second European country to ban the wearing of the burqa or other full face veils in public. The Chamber of Deputies approved the ban on April 28, and the Senate had 15 days to intervene, which it failed to do. (Background on legislative process.)  The law will go into effect ten days after its publication in Belgium's official journal. Anyone who appears in public with their face fully or partly covered, impairing identification, can under the law be fined 15 to 20 Euros and imprisoned up to 7 days. A burqa ban-- with significantly greater penalties-- went into effect in France in April. (See prior posting.)