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I find it astounding how a simple headscarf can be banned in some countries, how can a scarf be offensive? people wore them in the 50's with no problems.
The Islamic veil across Europe Countries across the continent have wrestled with an issue that takes in religious freedom, female equality, secular traditions and even fears of terrorism.
FRANCE
Headscarves are allowed at French universities - but not schools
A ban on Muslim headscarves and other "conspicuous" religious symbols at state schools was introduced in 2004.
The measure received overwhelming political and public support in a country where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law.
However, headscarves can be worn in Muslim schools, and at university level, where the law on religious signs does not apply.
TURKEY For the past 80 years Turks have lived in a secular state founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who rejected headscarves as backward-looking in his campaign to secularise Turkish society.
Even so, it is estimated that as many as 65% of Turkish women cover their heads with a scarf.
Nonetheless, scarves are banned in civic spaces, including schools, universities - state or private - and official buildings.
In November 2005 the European Court of Human Rights ruled the ban was legitimate.
BRITAIN
There is no ban on Islamic dress in the UK.
However, schools are allowed to forge their own dress code.
The courts were forced to rule when a schoolgirl complained that her school sent her home for wearing a jilbab, which covers the entire body, except for hands, feet, face, and head.
The courts said the school made sufficient concessions by allowing the Islamic trousers and tunic.
GERMANY
Teacher Fereshta Ludin's case prompted states to legislate
In September 2003 the federal Constitutional Court ruled in favour of a teacher who wanted to wear an Islamic scarf to school.
However, it said states could change their laws locally if they wanted to.
At least four German states have gone on to ban teachers from wearing headscarves and in the state of Hesse the ban applies to all civil servants.
RUSSIA Russia's Supreme Court has overturned a 1997 interior ministry ruling which forbade women from wearing headscarves in passport photos.
ITALY In September 2004 local politicians in the north of Italy resurrected old laws against the wearing of masks, to ban women from wearing the all-over burqa.
In July 05 the Italian parliament approved anti-terrorist laws which make hiding one's features from the public - including through wearing the burqa - an offence.
The government has said it will put forward draft new legislation to ban the Islamic veil that covers the face.
BELGIUM The city of Maaseik, on the Dutch border, has banned the niqab, which covers the whole body except for the eyes.
NETHERLANDS The Dutch cabinet has backed a proposal by the country's immigration minister to ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public places.
The cabinet said burqas disturb public order, citizens and safety.
Critics of the proposed ban say it would violate civil rights.
An estimated 5% of people living in the Netherlands are Muslims. But there are just a few dozen women in the Netherlands who choose to wear the burqa, a traditional Islamic form of dress.
posted
it's a pack mentality, like a mob mentality, one does it and everyone else jumps on the band wagon ...
Demiana Member # 2710
posted
Headscarfs in the Netherlands, some 30 years ago, were just something exotic, if anything pointing at illiteracy since they were worn by Mahgreb Women from the Rif that came to live with their husbands who worked here in lowtrained jobs. Nothing harmless anyway.
Headscarfs now are seen as a symbol of backwardness the least and as a symbol of fanatical nonflexible fundamentalist if not terrorist Islamic exposure. It is not very helpfull either that the handfull of women here that wear niqab are western converts that take the ideas to the extremes.
In western eyes it is very difficult to see a headscarf as a token of religious piety, let alone emancipation.
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