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You are here: Home News Dutch News Minister to consider burka ban in health sector
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25/04/2008Minister to consider burka ban in health sector

Minister to consider burka ban in health sector The presence of a burka may be detrimental to doctor-patient relationship, says health minister.

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]


1 reaction to this article

historytechdoc posted: 2008-04-25 16:04:34

If such a ban were to be imposed for the wearing of a niqab or burka in the health service center, then perhaps it should also apply to any form of religious symbolism including jewelry and other clothing items such as crosses, yamakas, ankhs, skull caps, and the like.
Frankly, banning such items would only lead to and require special policing that would cause more tension and stress in places where that needs to be avoided.
What might work would be more public discussion and education in how the wearing of religious symbolic clothing of any kind may cause increased stress in a place where the emphasis should be in reducing same for valid health reasons.
Being considerate of others feelings is perhaps the truest manner of expressing one's religious or humanitarian beliefs.

1 reaction to this article

historytechdoc posted: 2008-04-25 16:04:34

If such a ban were to be imposed for the wearing of a niqab or burka in the health service center, then perhaps it should also apply to any form of religious symbolism including jewelry and other clothing items such as crosses, yamakas, ankhs, skull caps, and the like.
Frankly, banning such items would only lead to and require special policing that would cause more tension and stress in places where that needs to be avoided.
What might work would be more public discussion and education in how the wearing of religious symbolic clothing of any kind may cause increased stress in a place where the emphasis should be in reducing same for valid health reasons.
Being considerate of others feelings is perhaps the truest manner of expressing one's religious or humanitarian beliefs.

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