Amnesty International Slams Belgium Ban on Veil
Amnesty International has criticized the Belgian parliament for passing a bill that will ban the wearing of full Muslim veils in public places.
The international human rights watchdog said on Thursday that it would violate the rights to freedom of expression and religion.
The organization's expert on discrimination in Europe, John Dalhuisen, said the action sets a dangerous precedent.
"The obligation to combat discrimination cannot be fulfilled by imposing a measure that is itself discriminatory," Dalhuisen said.
The Belgian lower house of parliament earlier on Thursday voted 136 in favor of the ban and none against, with two abstentions.
The bill could become law in the coming months as the upper house, or Senate, is not expected to block it.
However, the prospect of an imminent election, brought on by the collapse of Belgium's coalition government, could cause a delay because parliament would have to be dissolved.
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