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| European court backs Belgian face veil ban | European court backs Belgian face veil ban |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) upheld Belgium’s ban on wearing Islamic full-face veils or niqab in public places, which was introduced in June 2011. The ban was challenged by two Muslim women. | The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) upheld Belgium’s ban on wearing Islamic full-face veils or niqab in public places, which was introduced in June 2011. The ban was challenged by two Muslim women. |
| The Belgian ban “doesn’t violate European human rights law,” the Strasbourg-based court said in a ruling on Tuesday. | The Belgian ban “doesn’t violate European human rights law,” the Strasbourg-based court said in a ruling on Tuesday. |
| Despite calling restrictions controversial, the judges argued they were “necessary in a democratic society." | Despite calling restrictions controversial, the judges argued they were “necessary in a democratic society." |
| The ban, which prohibits appearing in public with a face masked or hidden in whole or partially in such a way as to be unidentifiable, was aimed at ensuring social order and the “protection of the rights and freedoms of others,” the ECHR explained. | The ban, which prohibits appearing in public with a face masked or hidden in whole or partially in such a way as to be unidentifiable, was aimed at ensuring social order and the “protection of the rights and freedoms of others,” the ECHR explained. |
| “The question whether the full-face veil was accepted in the Belgian public sphere was… a choice of society,” the ruling stated. | “The question whether the full-face veil was accepted in the Belgian public sphere was… a choice of society,” the ruling stated. |
| Penalties for violating the ban, which include a fine and a seven-day prison term for repeat offenders, were also found “proportionate” by the judges. | Penalties for violating the ban, which include a fine and a seven-day prison term for repeat offenders, were also found “proportionate” by the judges. |
| The case against the Belgian ban was brought to the ECHR by two Muslim women back in 2013. | The case against the Belgian ban was brought to the ECHR by two Muslim women back in 2013. |
| Belgian national Samia Belcacemi and Yamina Oussar of Morocco said the restrictions violated their rights and discriminated against their decision to wear niqab, which they made “on their own initiative.” | Belgian national Samia Belcacemi and Yamina Oussar of Morocco said the restrictions violated their rights and discriminated against their decision to wear niqab, which they made “on their own initiative.” |
| READ MORE: Norway proposes national ban on full-face veils in educational institutions | READ MORE: Norway proposes national ban on full-face veils in educational institutions |
| Belcacemi said that she initially continued wearing the full-face veil after the ban was introduced, but then gave up on doing so due to public pressure and fear of being fined. | Belcacemi said that she initially continued wearing the full-face veil after the ban was introduced, but then gave up on doing so due to public pressure and fear of being fined. |
| Oussar told the court that she “decided to stay at home” after restrictions came into force. | Oussar told the court that she “decided to stay at home” after restrictions came into force. |
| READ MORE: Burqas should be banned because they block Vitamin D from sunlight – UKIP manifesto | READ MORE: Burqas should be banned because they block Vitamin D from sunlight – UKIP manifesto |
| The ECHR earlier upheld a similar ban in France, which became the first EU member state to outlaw wearing niqabs in April 2011. | |
| Some areas in Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Bulgaria have also imposed restrictions on wearing niqabs in recent years. |