Italian Minister urges fine for burka

[emad]

John Hooper in Rome
Monday June 6, 2005
The Guardian

Women wearing burkas in Italy should be reported to the police and fined, Silvio Berlusconi's justice minister said at the weekend. Roberto Castelli said the garment was at odds with an Italian law that forbids masks.

The burka is rare, though not unknown, in Italy. But commentators yesterday noted that the minister's ruling against masks could be applied to other garb more commonly worn by Muslim women, that leaves only the eyes visible.

Mr Castelli told a meeting in the northern town of Como: "No one may break the law."

He was referring to a decision by the local prefect to overturn fines imposed last year on an Italian convert to Islam from nearby Drezzo, who wears a burka. Two other women have been fined for wearing the garment elsewhere. Mr Castelli's remarks were condemned by leftwing parties. Marco Rizzo of the Communist party said they were "at the threshold of incitement to racial and religious hatred".

[neweurope]

1. Yes, they are inciting racial and religious hatred!

Bad enough that head scarves are forbidden in some European schools, hospitals and the like (Germany included). I don't know the Italian law that forbids "masks" - in Germany "masks" are forbidden at demonstrations - but NOBODY has the right to tell ANYBODY what to wear! Next some ***holes don't like miniskirts or whatever... This is crazy!

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Spectral]

2. Maybe they think they are the fashion police?

:shrug:

[MojoXN]

3. I see that fascism is still alive and well in Italy...

Benito Mussolini would be proud!

MojoXN

[AwakeAtLast]

4. Yeah, I was gonna ask

if they have to trade in their burkas for brown shirts!