For what is expected to be the strictest ban on veils to date on the European continent, Dutch cabinet officials say Friday they will instigate a ban on face-covering veils in all public places, including in the streets, on buses and on trains. Other face coverings such as face visors on motorcycle helmets will also be restricted in the ban. Dutch officials cited public order and safety as amongst the causes for the measure.

Although such laws already exist in other European countries such as France and Italy, these are specific to places like schools. The Dutch ban will be the first to encompass all public places. Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk told the press, "The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing - including the burqa - is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens".

The ban will come on the heels of an increasingly cautious attitude by the Dutch toward fundamentalist Muslim communities, since the November 2004 murder by militant Muslims of Dutch film-maker Theo Van Gogh, who had made a controversial film about the treatment of women in Islam.

Although the Muslim population is small in the Netherlands as compared to other European countries, about 5%, the new law will increase the growing debate about human rights protections for the Dutch Muslim community. But the measure is likely to pass soon after the pending election, in which conservatives are expected to hold power. Dutch MP's have publicly expressed concern that the face-covering veils discourage the idea of immersion into the Dutch society, make communication difficult, and pose a threat to public order. They also point out that full veiling keeps Muslim women from the job market, and they then go on public welfare.

The bans in Europe apply mainly to face-covering veils only. The BBC offers information on different types of veils. Click here for presentation.