Belgian City Bans Hijab

[Hashim_507]

BRUSSELS — Ghent City, Belgium's third largest, has decided to prohibit civil servants who were with the public from donning hijab.
"It is really not clear who counts as an employee in contact with the public, but we will have to carry it out," a city spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday, November 28.

The city council voted the ban with 26 in favor and 23 other against.

The spokesman said hijab-clad employees might be offered work elsewhere.

Teachers and police officers will be exempted from the hijab ban.

Belgium's second city Antwerp banned the Muslim headscarf earlier this year.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

Hijab has been thrust into the limelight since the 2004 French ban on the Muslim headscarf at public schools and institutions.

Several European countries have since followed the French lead.

Belgian Muslims are estimated at 450,000 – out of a 10-million-population – about half of them are from Moroccan origin, while 120,000 are from Turkish origin.

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1195032713329&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout

 

[Malaikah]

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

I was just thinking, finally a journalist makes the distinction... until I realised it was from an Islamic website anyway.:-\

 

[chacha_jalebi]

:mmokay:

 

[wilberhum]

I always like Real News sources.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22835031-5005361,00.html

BELGIUM'S third largest city Ghent has banned its employees from wearing Muslim headscarves and other religious or political symbols.

All city personnel, such as librarians and child care workers, will not be allowed to wear such garments or symbols if they come into contact with the public, a city spokesman said.

Similar measures have been imposed in other European countries like France, where there are growing numbers of Muslim immigrants.

The measures are controversial. Supporters say they help Muslim immigrant women better integrate in their host countries, while opponents say they are discriminatory.

The council voted 26 to 23 yesterday for the ban, with the Liberals, Christian Democrats and far-right Vlaams Belang in favour and the socialists and Greens against.

“It is really not clear who counts as an employee in contact with the public, but we will have to carry it out,” said the spokesman.

The city has 4700 employees and is aware of two women wearing headscarves who work on counters dealing with the public. It was possible they might be offered work elsewhere, the spokesman said.

The ban would not affect teachers and police officers.

Ghent follows Belgium's second city Antwerp, which banned its workers from wearing headscarves and religious wear earlier this year.

Antwerp has since said Muslim women in nurseries would be allowed to cover their heads with bandanas instead.

 

[chosen]

This is one of the main reasons why I love living in America..We have true freedom of religion..This would never happen in an american city. I think one religion should never be put over any other religion..if they can ban Hijaab..what is next banning the wearing of crosses or the star of David..there will never be world peace as long as there is discrimination in religion..

 

[chosen]

There have been several cases in America where muslims and shieks have been told they could nt wear there religous dress...these employeers are immediatley sued..and never win..it is just not allowed in america

 

[Keltoi]

Well, one either works on the assumption that this law was passed as a result of discrimination and religious intolerance, or on the assumption that it is just secularism gone mad. Either way it is a bad law.

 

[wilberhum]

This is one of the main reasons why I love living in America..We have true freedom of religion..This would never happen in an american city. I think one religion should never be put over any other religion..if they can ban Hijaab..what is next banning the wearing of crosses or the star of David..there will never be world peace as long as there is discrimination in religion..

Try reading again. I think the "Star of David" would qualify as a religious symbol.

But I do like freedom of religion and I don't like the ban.

But you will find most that compalin only want religious freedom when they benifit from it.

 

[chosen]

Could be secularism gone mad..never really though of it that way..but why target one religion and the way they dress..and muslim dress isnt really a religious symbol..a scarf is an article of clothes..not a religious symbol..just between you and me my grandmother, who is christian wears a scarf on her head everyday...

 

[Thanaa]

They talk about helping women to integrate..because they assume all Muslim women in the area to be immigrants.
How rude.
Its just dicrimination against Muslims in general, especially when they only have 2 employees who wear it!
Theres no way that If a ban came to Britain, that Id observe it. Im British through and through, and noone has the right to decide what a free British woman wears or does not wear.

 

[wilberhum]

Could be secularism gone mad..never really though of it that way..but why target one religion and the way they dress..and muslim dress isnt really a religious symbol..a scarf is an article of clothes..not a religious symbol..just between you and me my grandmother, who is christian wears a scarf on her head everyday...

Nock Nock. :muddlehea Go read the real article. Not the Islamonline one.

The target is religious or political symbols.
That would cover waring a big cross outside your shirt to.

 

[جوري]

I have to agree that Europe is not like the U.S.. U.S is fairly conservative and puritanical still-- I hope that doesn't change..

freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion.. secularism is becoming a doctrine all its own, with hyper vigilant disciples who want to do away with centuries long traditions... You can't force people to consent to this brand of thought!

what a crying shame---

 

[NoName55]

Could be secularism gone mad..never really though of it that way..but why target one religion and the way they dress..and Muslim dress isn't really a religious symbol..a scarf is an article of clothes..not a religious symbol..just between you and me my grandmother, who is christian wears a scarf on her head everyday...

had you visited north of England during 50s, you would have had difficulty finding English women without a headscarf

wa salam (peace)

 

[wilberhum]

They talk about helping women to integrate..because they assume all Muslim women in the area to be immigrants.
How rude.
Its just dicrimination against Muslims in general, especially when they only have 2 employees who wear it!
Theres no way that If a ban came to Britain, that Id observe it. Im British through and through, and noone has the right to decide what a free British woman wears or does not wear.

Interesting, a law that covers every person of every religion is just dicrimination against Muslims in general.

 

[Thanaa]

Interesting, a law that covers every person of every religion is just dicrimination against Muslims in general.

Ah, but will other people be made to take off their religious symbols, hmm?
A crucifix can be tucked in, as can a star of David.
I dont doubt that a lot of non-muslim people will be "let off", as their personal religious symbols are less obvious.
I do wonder about Sikhs though.

 

[wilberhum]

Ah, but will other people be made to take off their religious symbols, hmm?
A crucifix can be tucked in, as can a star of David.
I dont doubt that a lot of non-muslim people will be "let off", as their personal religious symbols are less obvious.
I do wonder about Sikhs though.

So you assume that the law will be enforced only on a decimator basis.

That seams a bit paranoid.

 

[chosen]

but again head scarves are not worn by muslims only..and they are not always worn for religious reasons ..so to ban them is crazy...and beyond that many muslim women will not take off their headscarves..so if they are banned in the workplace or anywhere else, you are making impossible for them to earn a living and do day to day activities..no one should tell another human being what they should or should not wear..

 

[wilberhum]

but again head scarves are not worn by muslims only
Not true. Head scarves are worn by many.
..and they are not always worn for religious reasons
True, thats why Head scarves are worn by many
..so to ban them is crazy..
Now that I have agree with that.
.and beyond that many muslim women will not take off their headscarves..so if they are banned in the workplace or anywhere else,
Why do you keep acting like the law covers things it does not cover. The law covers city personnel only.
you are making impossible for them to earn a living and do day to day activities..
Again, I do not support the law, but making false statements only makes things worse.
no one should tell another human being what they should or should not wear..
Well I have to agree with that one too. Maybe you should tell Iran that too.

Man you need to reread. Or did you ever read it in the first place?

 

[chosen]

city personnel are workers..how can you ban a city worker from comming to work..that is what you are effectively doing when you tell a religious person they can not show up wearing a headscarf..as far as whats next and me acting like this law covers things it doesnt...if the city personel can not wear headscarfs..how long before they are banned from city schools and gathering?????the goverment has no businness sticking there noses into this situation.

 

[chosen]

as far as Iran is concerned..I think they are wrong too..arresting women for not dressing islamically...the parent sof those girls in many instances were outraged.they felt like there was nothing wrong with the way there daughters were dressed....but you can not point to the situation in iran to justify this...two wrongs do not make a right..