No Burqa Ban

The new minister of integration, Ella Vogelaar, stated on radio that there will be no burqa ban implemented in the Netherlandss. This comes in the face of Geert Wilders ranting that it should be banned.

Ms Vogelaar clearly states that she is no fan of the Burqa, but points to difficulties in implementing a ban. No kidding - there is a constitutional right to freedom of religious expression guaranteed in the Dutch constitution. And then imagine enforcing it, scenes of a policeman trying to arrest a burqa wearer come to mind - not a good look for a so called tolerant nation.

This discussion has been going on for years, first with the former Minister of Integration, Rita Verdonk, and now with Geert Wilders.

So who would have been directly affected by this rule? Apparently just 150 women, yet it's warranted two resolutions and endless discussions in parliament.

I hope this is the end of the discussion, it seems an enormous waste of tax dollars to discuss something that will contravene the constitution, affect barely 150 people, who may react not by throwing of the burqa and adopting Dutch dress - but by staying home. However I suspect the Islamophobes won't be able to let it lie.

Burqa Ban

Verdonk Seeks a Ban on the Burqa (10 October 2005)
Rita Verdonk, Minister of Foreigner Affairs and Integration will investigate the possibility of banning the use of a burqa in specific situations. According to the minister a general, nationwide ban is not possible.

Why? I'm no fan of the Burqa, but I've lived here since 1998 and have yet to see a woman wearing one. There are many muslim women in Amsterdam, mostly from Turkey and Morrocco, and mostly they wear a headcovering that doesn't cover the face. Rarely have I seen a woman wearing something that covered the mouth, and I've never seen a woman wearing one that covers her eyes in any way.

So why waste time discussing this in parliament? I have two theories:
(1) The Red Herring. While we and the press are distracted with this nonsense item something else is being passed.
(2) The Bait and Switch. Proposing an extreme action, watching us overreact, then backing down to a more modest proposal that is allowed to pass.

I'm going with theory 2, Verdonk has used this before, for example her initial far reaching proposals for all immigrants to go through an integration course regardless of time spent in the Netherlands or whether they held Dutch citizenship. She came undone because the EU laws regarding freedom of movement.

I'm waiting to see what her real intent is.