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You are here: Home News Dutch News Dutch schools and universities to ban burka
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09/09/2008Dutch schools and universities to ban burka

Dutch Education Minister says the burka, a head-to-toe covering worn by Muslim women, will be banned from Dutch education institutes.

9 September 2008

THE HAGUE -- The burka, a head-to-toe covering worn by some Muslim women, will be banned from Dutch schools and universities, Education Minister Ronald Plasterk said Monday in a letter to parliament.

The minister is preparing a bill to outlaw the garb from mid-2009. He added that the rule will not only apply to pupils and teachers, but anyone entering the school or university premises.

Plasterk said the burka obstructs smooth communication, which is a major requirement for a proper education.

The burka, also known as a niqab in some traditions, is a wide dress covering not only the entire body, hair and neck, but also the face, leaving only a slit for the eyes.
All schools that receive government funding, including Muslim ones, will be obliged to enforce the ban, Plasterk said.

The news comes after Health Minister Ab Klink recently announced he is investigating the possibility of banning the burka from the healthcare industry.

The Dutch government is also preparing a new dress code that would see the burka and any other clothing covering the face banned from ministries.

The government is hoping that provincial and municipal authorities will follow this example.

A study conducted in 2007 said around 100 women in the Netherlands wear a burka on a regular basis.

[dpa / Expatica]

For more Dutch news, please go to http://www.expatica.com/nl/articles/general.html


4 reactions to this article

tony posted: 2008-09-09 12:39:10

about time too, whose country is it, laws are laws, don't like them, don't come, we don't need to go backwards, naieve people tie themselves up in knots, with their hysterical nazi/racist slurs on common sense/free speech views, so don't even start, simple as......

Dan posted: 2008-09-10 05:24:10

Good for Holland!! May other countries follow her lead. If people do not like Holland's laws, they can leave the country.

Dan posted: 2008-09-10 05:24:20

Good for Holland!! May other countries follow her lead. If people do not like Holland's laws, they can leave the country.

Billy L. posted: 2009-06-23 13:02:34

I tend to agree that schools and state institute should maintain a secular environment - but when you argue that one should leave the country if they don't like the law - well I assume you were only referring to the immigrants. How about those who were born in that very own country? Where should they turn to...? Should the law not include them as well? Should the law ignore the rights of minorities?

4 reactions to this article

tony posted: 2008-09-09 12:39:10

about time too, whose country is it, laws are laws, don't like them, don't come, we don't need to go backwards, naieve people tie themselves up in knots, with their hysterical nazi/racist slurs on common sense/free speech views, so don't even start, simple as......

Dan posted: 2008-09-10 05:24:10

Good for Holland!! May other countries follow her lead. If people do not like Holland's laws, they can leave the country.

Dan posted: 2008-09-10 05:24:20

Good for Holland!! May other countries follow her lead. If people do not like Holland's laws, they can leave the country.

Billy L. posted: 2009-06-23 13:02:34

I tend to agree that schools and state institute should maintain a secular environment - but when you argue that one should leave the country if they don't like the law - well I assume you were only referring to the immigrants. How about those who were born in that very own country? Where should they turn to...? Should the law not include them as well? Should the law ignore the rights of minorities?

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