'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
25 April 2008
THE NETHERLANDS – Dutch Health Minister Ab Klink is going to investigate whether it would be desirable to introduce a so-called "burka ban" in the health sector, prompted by a proposal by the Christian Democrat party.
The health minister said that while no major problems occur in practice, he could imagine that if a person has their face covered it may be detrimental to the relationship between patient and doctor or nurse.
Parliament broadly supports government plans to ban the wearing of clothing that covers the face in public transport and schools, and by public service workers.
The conservative VVD and right-wing populist Freedom Party think the present proposals do not go far enough. They would like to see a total ban on the wearing of the niqab or burka in public.
[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]