The Dutch parliament has voted to ban face veils in some public places including government buildings, public transport and others.
The law passed by the lower house of the Dutch Parliament, which requires the approval of upper house, bans veils and other items which hide faces in government buildings, public transport, schools and hospital.
The Dutch government argued that the law was essential for public security, but opponents dubbed it gratify anti-Muslims sentiments.
The motion “to ban all clothing which completely covers the face” from government buildings was approved by 132 members in the 150-seat house, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s ruling Liberal-Labour coalition.
It does not ban wearing full-face coverings on the street, which has long been a demand of Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam opposition Freedom Party (PVV), which is leading in polls ahead of elections in March.
His election campaign appears to have been given a boost thanks to the publicity from his trial on charges of hate speech in a Dutch court over comments he made about Moroccans living in the country.