Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:6AM GMT
Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg (file photo)
A Council of Europe human rights commissioner has criticized European countries that have banned or are considering banning the burqa for giving into prejudices of xenophobes.
Thomas Hammarberg said that such laws run counter to European human rights standards, France24 quoted Hammarberg as saying.
Instead of liberating women, such measures would lead to women's alienation from society, he added.
Hammerberg further called on European nations to take actions against hate crimes and discrimination instead of passing laws that regulates how people should dress.
“The way the dress of a small number of women has been portrayed as a key problem requiring urgent discussion and legislation is a sad capitulation to the prejudices of the xenophobes, Hammerberg said.
“Much deeper problems of intercultural tensions and gaps have been sidetracked by the burqa and niqab discussions.”
“Instead of encouraging this unfortunate discourse, political leaders and governments should take more resolute action against hate crimes and discrimination against minorities.”
Hammerberg's comments came as Belgium, on July 23, will be the latest EU country to enforce a law that could fine, or even imprison, women for wearing the burqa.
France became the first country to ban the full-face veil in April.
PM/MGH
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