Belgian burqa ban counterproductive

As in France, the Belgian parliament is now discussing a ban on the burqa, or full body veil. But such a ban would be counterproductive, writes the daily Göteborgs-Posten: "Such a move runs a high risk of exacerbating the situation by limiting the movement of women who wear the veil by no decision of their own. ... The burqa has become a symbol for the Taliban regime, which most EU countries are actively fighting with their participation in the Afghanistan war. And what you fight against abroad you don't want to see in your own back yard. But that's a dangerous way of thinking, because what we are seeking to defend there is freedom and human rights. Dress codes are conceivable at work for practical or hygienic reasons. ... But when you go to the market you've got to be able to dress as you please, provided you wear something."

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