The prospect of a burqa ban spreads across Europe

In several European countries, measures against face-veils worn by some Muslim women are up for debate. The full-body burqa or the face-covering niqab are pushing many countries toward a ban.

However, human rights conventions of the Council of Europe only allow controls on religious freedom in the interest of public safety or the preservation of democracy.

• Primary Source

El Periódico de Catalunya, 15.6.10: Barcelona bans burqa in public places (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/273201-barcelona-bans-burqa-public-places

ESO: Background information: German Euro MP Koch-Mehrin urges EU burka ban http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-euro-mp-koch-mehrin-urges-eu-burka-ban/

ESO: Background information: Five European states back burka ban http://www.europeansources.info/record/five-european-states-back-burka-ban/

New Statesman, 31.5.10: How the burqa spoiled the party http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/262441-how-burqa-spoiled-party

Die Zeit, 13.8.10: For the free movement of gods (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/315431-free-movement-gods

Pew Research Center: Pew Global Attitudes Project: Survey Reports: Widespread Support For Banning Full Islamic Veil in Western Europe , July 2010 http://pewglobal.org/2010/07/08/widespread-support-for-banning-full-islamic-veil-in-western-europe/

Council of Europe: Press Release, 23.6.10: PACE unanimously opposed to a general ban on wearing of the burqa https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=PR508(2010)&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=DC&BackColorInternet=F5CA75&BackColorIntranet=F5CA75&BackColorLogged=A9BACE

Der Standard, 20.7.10: Burqa, the cross we must bear (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/298191-burqa-cross-we-must-bear

Spiegel Online International, 21.7.10: Europe's Fear of the Burqa http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,707251,00.html

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