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The Local: Swiss Parliamentarians Vote for Burqa Ban
Sep 28, 2011 @ 16:15

http://www.thelocal.ch/1319/20110928/




Swiss parliamentarians approved on Wednesday a far-right move to impose a ban on the burqa or other face coverings in some public places, including on public transport.


"With 101 votes against 77, the lower chamber of the house approved the motion titled "masks off!".


The draft bill will still have to be examined by the upper chamber.


Put forward by Oskar Freysinger, a politician of the Swiss far-right SVP party, the motion requires "anyone addressing a federal, cantonal or communal authority exercising his or her functions, to present themselves with their faces uncovered."


Burqas would also be banned on public transport, while "authorities can ban or restrict access to public buildings to such individuals in order to guarantee the security of other users."


Explaining the motion, Freysinger noted that "at a time when insecurity is growing in our streets, more and more people are hiding their faces behind a balaclava, a mask or a burqa.


"This makes it impossible to identify these people, a fact that is particularly troublesome in case of violence or identity checks," he noted.


France was the first European Union country to impose a ban on the burqa in public places, while Belgium joined it some months later.


On September 16th, the Dutch government also agreed to a ban on the full Islamic veil under a deal with the far-right party of the anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders."





AFP ([email protected])


The text you are quoting:

http://www.thelocal.ch/1319/20110928/




Swiss parliamentarians approved on Wednesday a far-right move to impose a ban on the burqa or other face coverings in some public places, including on public transport.


"With 101 votes against 77, the lower chamber of the house approved the motion titled "masks off!".


The draft bill will still have to be examined by the upper chamber.


Put forward by Oskar Freysinger, a politician of the Swiss far-right SVP party, the motion requires "anyone addressing a federal, cantonal or communal authority exercising his or her functions, to present themselves with their faces uncovered."


Burqas would also be banned on public transport, while "authorities can ban or restrict access to public buildings to such individuals in order to guarantee the security of other users."


Explaining the motion, Freysinger noted that "at a time when insecurity is growing in our streets, more and more people are hiding their faces behind a balaclava, a mask or a burqa.


"This makes it impossible to identify these people, a fact that is particularly troublesome in case of violence or identity checks," he noted.


France was the first European Union country to impose a ban on the burqa in public places, while Belgium joined it some months later.


On September 16th, the Dutch government also agreed to a ban on the full Islamic veil under a deal with the far-right party of the anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders."





AFP ([email protected])



TranslatorSep 28, 2011 @ 16:15
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Re: The Local: Swiss Parliamentarians Vote for Burqa Ban
Post 1
Sep 29, 2011 @ 00:41

It's almost comic this fear mongering about the safety of our streets and linking it to burqua wearing suicide bombers who are lurking everywhere (in some people's delusional minds - or more likely just mean minds seeking a political niche).


I think the burqua quite impractical as was pointed out to me in the book 'The Bookseller of Kabul' but must say I find veils and other head scarfs attractive and non-threatening.  In fact I am almost amused to see young school girls walking side by side, one veiled and the other not behaving and appearing identically except for the head scarf.


On an Emirates flight to Canada I was surprised to see the burqua head/face cover come off from a group of women.  Are there different rules applicable when your feet don't touch the ground?


Much ado about nothing!

The text you are quoting:

It's almost comic this fear mongering about the safety of our streets and linking it to burqua wearing suicide bombers who are lurking everywhere (in some people's delusional minds - or more likely just mean minds seeking a political niche).


I think the burqua quite impractical as was pointed out to me in the book 'The Bookseller of Kabul' but must say I find veils and other head scarfs attractive and non-threatening.  In fact I am almost amused to see young school girls walking side by side, one veiled and the other not behaving and appearing identically except for the head scarf.


On an Emirates flight to Canada I was surprised to see the burqua head/face cover come off from a group of women.  Are there different rules applicable when your feet don't touch the ground?


Much ado about nothing!


Marksist, Sep 29, 2011 @ 00:41
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