Now the Netherlands bans Islamic veil – but will Britain ever do the same?
HOLLAND has banned the full-face Islamic veil in government buildings, schools, hospitals and on public transport after a fierce debate on the burqa.
The ban does not completely forbid the veil in public places, but outlaws it "in specific situations where it is essential for people to be seen" or for security reasons.
"The bill does not have any religious background," prime minister Mark Rutte said.
The government had previously tried to pass a bill banning the burqa in all public places, but it will now be withdrawn.
Those breaching the ban can now be fined up to £285.
Between 100 and 500 women in the Netherlands wear the burqa, according to the country's state broadcaster.
The ban follows a 2009 crackdown on the full-face veil in France, with then-prime minister Nicolas Sarkozy saying the garment reduced women to servitude.
France's parliament then passed a burqa ban in 2010, leading to protests from Islamic groups who said it was discriminatory.
An October 2013 poll revealed a majority of Britons support the banning of the full-face veill – because it makes them feel uneasy.
And in March last year Philip Hollobone put forward a parliamentary bill seeking to prohibit the wearing of face coverings, in particular the Muslim veil and balaclavas.
