THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Netherlands has approved a limited ban on 'face-covering clothing' in public places, including Islamic veils and robes such as the burqa and niqab but not the hijab, which covers only the hair.
(RNS) — It's hard to think of a way to more quickly alienate new neighbors we want to fully buy in to our way of life than to mock and restrict their clothing, writes John G. Stackhouse Jr.
(AP) — 'To ridicule that community, to drive it into a corner, to mock its religious garments is an appalling thing to do and I would ask you to reflect on what you have done,' said Attorney General George Brandis to the senator who donned the burqa.
(Reuters) The move comes seven months before a federal election where immigration will be a prominent issue and the Bavarian conservatives that govern the regionare worried about losing votes to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
ROME (RNS) The Rev. Franco Corbo, a 76-year-old pastor from southern Italy, was the subject of a nationwide backlash on TV and social media.
'The full-face veil is not acceptable in our country,' she said to party members meeting in Essen. 'It should be banned wherever legally possible.'
PARIS -- A top French court on Friday suspended a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has angered Muslims, feminists and civil liberties campaigners.
BERLIN -- Restrictions on face and full-body veils are back in the spotlight in parts of Europe after some French cities banned the burkini swimsuit, saying the garment, which leaves only the face, hands and feet exposed, defies laws on secularism.
(Reuters) The CDU's calls for a partial ban come as it has lost support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which says Islam is incompatible with the constitution.
PARIS (RNS) The gradual transformation of the niqab issue from a national debate to little more than a footnote speaks volumes about French politics.
(RNS) Chad, a majority-Muslim nation in Central Africa, become the second country on the continent to ban women from wearing the full-face veil.
(RNS) Lawmakers seek a $2 million for an "anti-radicalization center" in Montreal, and limit public employees and people seeiking public services from covering their faces.
(RNS) Government officials said they were concerned the garments might be used as a disguise to commit terrorist acts.
From church-state battles in America to religious freedom news around the world. Catch up on last month’s dirt, now with more snark.
Welcome back to the Religious Freedom Recap, our weekly look at top stories and developments on religious liberty around the globe.
