Belgium: Complete burqa ban from Jul

Brussels, Apr 30: Though the fall of Premier Yves Leterme's government of Christian Democrats, Liberals and Socialists on Apr 22, may delay the anti-burqa law by couple of months, the country is expected to enter into a total burqa ban in Jul 2010.

The bill was unanimously approved by the lower house's interior affairs committee on March 31 and also by the lower house.

"If all the inhabitants of Belgium for one reason or another decide to hide the face, how can everyone communicate together, because the face allows us to recognise each other. These are the fundamental reasons for the vote today," said Jacques Otlet, a Belgian MP.

On being passed, the bill is expected to become a law in Jul 2010 and would be applicable to all public places including the streets.

The ban comes in line with the move against the full Islamic veil in different countries.

Recently, French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered a legislation which would ban women from wearing the full Islamic veil in public places.

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