Dutch Parliament Passes Burqa Ban

The Netherlands has passed a limited ban on “face-covering clothing,” including Islamic veils and robes such as burqas, but not nijabs, which do not cover the face.

The measure can is being largely credited to the work of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has pushed for this issue for over a decade.

Sen. Marjolein Faber-Van de Klashorst stated that it was “a historical day because this is the first step to de-Islamize the Netherlands,” and went on to state that the next step is to close all Mosques in the Netherlands.

The Dutch law is describes as “politically-neutral,” and effects very few people in the country. It is believed that only a few hundred women in the Netherlands wear burqas in the first place.

It doesn’t just ban burqas, but any garment that covers the face, including sky masks and full-face helmets. The ban is only effective in public places, and does not extend to private property.

The Netherlands are not the first country to enact a ban on Islamic clothing like burqas. There are burqa bans in at least nine European countries.