Italy: Higher Judicial Council OKs right to wear veil in court 0
Italy: Higher Judicial Council OKs right to wear veil in court Via AGI : The Higher Judicial Council (CSM) has ruled that the veil may be worn on religious grounds in Italian courts.
Netherlands: Council of State says burqa is women’s choice 0
Netherlands: Council of State says burqa is women’s choice Via RNW : The Dutch Council of State says it should be up to women themselves to decide whether or not to wear garments which cover the face. The highest government advisory body argues that ministers shouldn’t use a general ban to rule out the choice of some women to wear the burqa.
Netherlands: Burka ban might popularize it, warns Muslim politician 0
Netherlands: Burka ban might popularize it, warns Muslim politician Via JPost : It’s easy to see why Fatima Elatik dislikes burkas.
Netherlands: Police don’t intend to enforce burqa ban 0
Netherlands: Police don’t intend to enforce burqa ban Via RNW : Once the burqa ban passed by the Dutch conservative coalition on Friday is approved by parliament, police will be obliged to enforce it, Security and Justice Minister Yvo Opstelten stresses.
Netherlands: Satirist drops burqa song after death threats 0
Netherlands: Satirist drops burqa song after death threats Via RNW : Dutch satirist Johan Vlemmix has decided not to perform his latest hit Do the Burqa onstage following death threats. The song, a carnival parody to the music of Van McCoy’s Do the Hustle, is a huge success on YouTube, so much so that the video provider has switched off the comments facility. Too many people were posting angry reactions saying that they had been insulted.
Surrey: girl attacked for wearing headscarf 0
Surrey: girl attacked for wearing headscarf Via the BBC (h/t Islamophobia Watch ): A race attack in Surrey on an 11-year-old girl will be the focus of community talks in Sunbury-on-Thames. The girl was attacked by older white girls who kicked her, pushed her to the ground and drew on her face. Surrey Police said it seemed the girl had been targeted on 11 January because she was wearing a headscarf.
Netherlands: PM says headscarves are not a symbol of oppression 0
Netherlands: PM says headscarves are not a symbol of oppression Via RNW : In a weekly meeting with the press, Prime Minister Mark Rutte has backed remarks made yesterday by Queen Beatrix that it is “nonsense” to say the Islamic headscarf is a symbol of women’s oppression. (…) Today, he added the queen’s comments were “completely right”. He said Mr Wilders’ comments on headscarves being a symbol of oppression were much too general, “There are lots of women who wear headscarves, they are not all oppressed.” ( source )
Netherlands: Majority Dutch think Queen should wear headscarf to mosque 0
Netherlands: Majority Dutch think Queen should wear headscarf to mosque Via De Telegraaf (Dutch): Queen Beatrix wore a headscarf while visiting a mosque in Oman this week, as a sign of respect for local custom. The Party for Freedom (PVV) criticized her, saying she was supporting the oppression of women under Islam. According to a Maurice de Hond poll, 79% of the Dutch think she acted properly.
Sweden: Teachers free to ban Islamic veils 0
Sweden: Teachers free to ban Islamic veils Via the Local : Teachers in Swedish schools can, in certain situations, prohibit students from wearing Islamic veils that reveal only their eyes, the country’s school’s agency has ruled. The ban covers clothing that could hinder interaction between students and teachers or which could pose a specific risk, such as in a laboratory. However, a general ban on headscarves isn’t possible
Denmark: Former abducted child threatened for acting Danish 0
Denmark: Former abducted child threatened for acting Danish Via BT (Danish, h/t uriasposten ): When she was 11, Nadia (now 17) had been abducted by her Palestinian father to Lebanon.