The European Court of Human Rights ruled France’s face covering ban is permissible under European law. The ruling came with 2 judges in favour and 15 against Burka. This ruling has come in a scenario when radical Islamists are going from European countries to participate in Jihad in Syria and Iraq. According to a rough estimation as many as 30,000 European Muslims are fighting Jihad in Syria against sitting government. There are observations of religious circles that Europe may face stiff reaction from Purist Islamists against this decision and European Court decision against Niqab and Burka may spark protests in Europe.
Europe, particularly United Kingdom is on fast pace of radicalisation and Islamist groups are strongly holding public opinion in favour of them and Muslims schools in UK are encouraging students to wear Niqab and Burka. Some of UK cities look more Middle East than Europe where over 90% Muslims girls and women are wearing Burkas and Niqabs. Uk Prime Minister has recently opened his mind against this rapid pace Islamisation of European society.
Court said that Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms does not violate the respondent’s freedom of religion. The respondent was a Muslim who wore a niqab and a burqa, Islamic clothing articles that cover the face, as a way of expressing her faith. According to the court:
Furthermore … by prohibiting everyone from wearing clothing designed to conceal the face in public places, the respondent State has to a certain extent restricted the reach of pluralism. … However, for their part, the Government indicated that it was a question of responding to a practice that the State deemed incompatible … with the ground rules of social communication and more broadly the requirements of “living together.” From that perspective, the respondent State is seeking to protect a principle of interaction between individuals, which in its view is essential for the expression not only of pluralism, but also of tolerance and broadmindedness without which there is no democratic society. It can thus be said that the question whether or not it should be permitted to wear the full-face veil in public places constitutes a choice of society.
Two judges dissented, finding that “the criminalisation of the wearing of a full-face veil is a measure which is disproportionate to the aim of protecting the idea of ‘living together.”
Your can read or down load full text of press release of the court to click this link
