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Italy's Right starts move towards ban on burkas
Nick Pisa, in Rome07.10.09
Italy is considering introducing a law which would make wearing a burka illegal.
MPs from the anti-immigration Northern League party, a member of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's ruling Right-wing coalition, presented the proposal in a Bill.
It comes only weeks after France said it was considering making the wearing of burkas illegal - prompting al Qaeda terrorists to "vow revenge" if the garment was banned.
Italy has more than one million Muslims but it is rare to see women wearing the full burka although there have been cases, especially in northern cities such as Milan and Verona, where women wearing it have been asked to remove at least the face veil.
Last month centre-Right politician Daniela Santanche was involved in clashes with Muslims after she attended an end of Ramadan festival and urged women to remove their burkas.
The Northern League's proposal would amend a 1975 law, introduced amid concern over domestic terrorism, which bans anyone wearing anything which makes their identification impossible.
However, this law allows for "justified cause" which until now local courts have interpreted to include religious reasons against bans.
The League's Roberto Cota said: "We are not racist and we have nothing against Muslims but the law must be equal for everyone."
MP Barbara Saltamartini, of the People of Freedom, said: "Banning the burka cannot be considered anti-Muslim because it is not obligatory in Islam.
"The Imam of Al-Azhar university in Cairo, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, has just stated unequivocally that Muslim women have the right to their own identity and that the burka is not part of Muslim tradition."
Reader views (10)
Good for him,he is right.only wish the British government had the same principles,rather than there slithering appeasing approach.
- Kev, London-UK
Burka wearing is so misapplied. In the strict societies its worn in muslim countries, women weren't supposed to go out, unless with a male of their family. Women weren't expected to leave the house that often. It was never meant for women going to university, having careers, living alone, or going out to work on their own every day. It's a political act for most who wear the burka in Britain.
Imagine if al Qaeda terrorised the west into stopping bans on the burka. Then they followed through with these women as the Taliban did in the parts of Pakistan they took over. Most British muslim women would not stand for a ban on them going shopping, to the cinema, watching TV, listening to music, going out on their own or driving. What's the betting there would be a sudden rush to discard the burkas and to loudly proclaim their Britishness?
- Valery, Abingdon
Sarkozy has only mouthed a few weasel words about how the 'burka is not welcome in France'. No one in the public sector is allowed to wear a head covering,a'foulard', but they keep trying.
- Madge Blair, Cahors France
THE BURKA IS ABOUT MALE DOMINATION NOT RELIGION. PITY WE HAVENT GOT A GOVERNMENT WITH THE SAME COURAGE AS FRANCE OR ITALY.
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
We have many Muslims in some parts of Denmark wearing the
burka and face veil and there has also been much debate about it in the press. One supermarket chain fired a worker when she wore a hijab to work, the one covering the head, she was serving at the tills. She took them to court but lost because it was in her work contract that she must dress in an acceptable way. The Burka just doesn't look right in Europe, in the middle east you expect to see it. It shows a lack of wanting to integrate. I hope Italy and France ban it. Next they will want Sharia law in Europe. When in Rome do what the Romans do or go and live in a country that accepts your way of dress.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark
There are incidents of elderly and children being frightened when treated in clinics or in schools by black clad full burka wearers in face veils. This has only been fashionable in Britain since 9/11 and is not a religious requirement.
Some Muslim countries have non black burkas. I think they look elegant. But the faceless apparitions appearing on our streets are alienating, anti social.
- Jennifer, Reading
Frank is correct, plus I'm sure covering your face is useful if living in the desert during a dust storm, but not really appropriate in London, Rome or Paris.
- Patricia, London
Good for Italy. At least two countries are prepared to resist the islamification of Europe. Shame we are too weak and cowed as a nation to do likewise
- Peter, Harrow, UK
I think this is right - the burka only increases the division between Muslims and the West. Interestingly, Egypt's top Islamic School (al-Azhar)has banned them.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties
Good for them.
Wearing a burka is not a religious requisite, simply a custom.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
