*** ----> Dutch ban on burqas in public places takes effect | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Dutch ban on burqas in public places takes effect

The Netherlands banned the wearing of a face-covering veil, such as a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport from yesterday as a contentious law on the garment worn by Muslim women came into force.

Between 200 and 400 women are estimated to wear a burqa or niqab in the country of 17 million people.

The Dutch legislation was passed in June 2018 after more than a decade of political debate on the subject. The farright politician Geert Wilders had proposed the face-covering veil ban back in 2005.