Belgian minister backs Islamic headscarves ban
Supporting proposals in neighbouring France to outlaw Islamic headscarves in public schools, Belgium’s Interior Minister Patrick Dewael said today he favoured imposing a similar ban in Belgium.
Dewael suggested the wearing of religious symbols should not be permitted in government institutions, including schools and courts.
“The government should remain neutral … so there should be no visible use of religious symbols or veils for police officers, judges, clerks or teachers in public schools,” Dewael wrote in Belgian daily De Morgen.
“It is also clear that students in public schools should not wear veils or other religious symbols.”
Dewael’s comments add to similar ones made by Foreign Minister Louis Michel yesterday and are bound to lead to a heated political debate between the coalition partners in Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt’s government.
The socialists, who are also part of the coalition government, are opposed to any ban.
Dewael’s comments come as more European governments debate whether to follow France’s lead and impose a ban on Islamic headscarves at public schools.
French President Jacques Chirac in December proposed to ban headscarves and other conspicuous religious symbols, including Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from schools to protect French secularism.
