Dutch lower house lawmakers approve burqa ban
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lawmakers in the lower house of Dutch parliament have approved a limited ban on "face-covering clothing" including Islamic veils and robes such as the burqa and niqab.
The legislation approved Tuesday by a large majority in the 150-seat lower house must now be approved by the upper house of parliament before it can be signed into law.
Studies suggest that only a few hundred women in the Netherlands wear niqabs or full-face burqas, but successive governments have attempted to ban the garments, following the example of European countries such as France and Belgium.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Dutch proposal, described by the government as "religion-neutral," does not go as far as the complete bans in those countries. It applies on public transport, education institutions, health institutions such as hospitals, and government buildings.