All cultures ‘not equal’ says Belgian minister

4 October 2004

BRUSSELS – Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Dewael, does not believe all cultures are equal, it was reported on Monday.

Dewael’s statements, directed particularly at some Muslim cultures, were published on Monday in Flemish newspapers De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad and Het Volk.

He said he could not understand why women were forced to cover up in a burka or why they were kept prisoners in their own homes.

He added that he could not accept a religion that did not recognise the separation of church and state.

Dewael met on Friday with the leader of his political party, Bart Somers, and with Flemish minister, Marino Keulen, to discuss drawing up concrete proposals on life in a multicultural society.

[Copyright Expatica 2004]

Subject: Belgian news