Parliamentary bid to ban burkha

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Tory MP Philip Hollobone has tabled a private members’ bill which would make it illegal for anyone to cover their face in public. His Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill had its first reading on 30 June. The bill does not have the support of the main parties and is unlikely to become law.

Mr Hollobone has commented that it is 'not the British way' for Muslim women to cover their faces in public and that ‘people feel that something should be done about burkas, but so many are afraid to speak out for fear of being labelled a racist’.

The proposed bill follows similar moves across Europe. Belgium’s parliament unanimously voted in April to ban the full Islamic face veil in public. Similar legislation is also being introduced in France and parts of Italy.

Daily Mail

Photo credit: Flickr user babasteve