10 November 2006

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch Cabinet is not in favour of Islamic women wearing a burka but cannot impose a ban on the garment at this time, Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said on Friday.

But the Liberal VVD minister also said the government was seeking legal space in which to impose ban on the burka, which covers Muslim women from head to toe.

Verdonk said the Cabinet believes the wearing of a burka is undesirable and that sufficient legal room exists to eventually impose a general ban, news agency ANP reported.

She pointed out that there is already regulations and restrictions imposed on the wearing of clothing that hides a person's face.

Those restrictions apply to public transport and in education, Verdonk said .She said the ban not only applied to burkas, but helmets and other facial coverings.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Dutch news