Quebec and Belgium Consider Banning Burqa: News Roundup
Banning the burqa has officially become a trend. Following France’s lead both Quebec and Belgium introduced legislation that would limit the face-covering veil worn by some Muslim women.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest and his cabinet introduced legislation that would prevent women wearing a burqa (also called a niqab) from receiving or delivering public services. This would include attending any school from daycare to university and receiving health care.
- The Montreal Gazette says the niqab ban will isolate Muslim women, keeping them from receiving an education and chasing them out of workplaces.
- Haroon Siddiqui of the Toronto Star calls the ban a “witch hunt against the niqabi minority,” saying there are only be 25 burqa-wearing women in Quebec and “we are witnessing collective hysteria.”
- Jack Jedwab of the Association for Canadian Studies tells The Province that Quebec most likely won’t pass the bill, because the government is mindful of intruding upon individual freedoms and minority rights.
In Belgium, a committee off lawmakers voted unanimously to ban the burqa in public and could become the first country in Europe (before France) to actually pass a law. The proposal will move to the full Parliament after Easter. The centre-right MP Denis Ducarme said, "I am proud that Belgium would be the first country in Europe which dares to legislate on this sensitive matter."
Although Quebec and Belgium made headlines this week, legislation on the burqa is more widespread than you might think. The National Post gives an interesting summary of Muslim veil laws around the world.
While Europe and Canada were preoccupied with the burqa, we had our own troubles here in the states this week when 9 members of a Christian militia group were indicted by a federal jury for plotting to kill local, state and federal law enforcement. The group calls itself “the Hutaree,” meaning “Christian warrior,” and believe that “acts of violence can bring about the final judgment prophesied in the Christian Bible.” The group was found with homemade bombs and firearms and charged them with seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction and teaching the use of explosive materials.
And a couple more stories to check out:
Next Year in the White House: A Seder Tradition New York Times
Happy Easter and Passover to those celebrating!