World

When In Rome: Italian Commission Approves Burqa Ban

An Italian parliamentary commission approved a draft law banning women from wearing veils that cover their faces in public, the AP reports.

The ban prohibits women from wearing a burqa, naqib or any other garb that covers their face. It would expand a decades-old law that for security reasons prohibits people from wearing face-covering items such as masks in public places.

Italy Burqa Bal Law Proposal

“Women who violate the ban would face fines of €100 to €300, while third parties who force women to cover their faces in public would be fined €30,000 ($43,000) and face up to 12 months in jail,” the AP reports.

Italy is the latest European country to act against the burqa. France and Belgium have banned the wearing of burqa-style Islamic dress in public, as has a city in Spain. The Belgium law cited security concerns.

But opponents of the ban cannot scream that is stems from anti-Muslim sentiments. The Italian law was sponsored by Souad Sbai, a Moroccan-born member of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative Freedom People party, who said she wanted to help Islamic women better integrate into Italian society.

“Five years ago, no one wore the burqa (in Italy). Today, there is always more. We have to help women get out of this segregation … to get out of this submission,” Sbai said in a telephone interview with the Appreciated Press.

“I want to speak for those who don’t have a voice, who don’t have the strength to yell and say, ‘I am not doing well,” she said.

According to some estimates, 3,000 women in Italy cover their faces with veils, she said, adding that many of them are forced to do so.

However, the spokesman of an Islamic group said banning the Islamic veil “is unjust and touches individual liberty.”

“This topic continues to be a sort of criminalization and media dramatization. In Italy, there aren’t even 100 women who wear the niqab, and not even one who wears the burqa,” Roberto Hamza Piccard, spokesman for the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, said.

According to Piccard, devout Muslim women would not be able to leave their homes because they would be forced to publicly  show their faces.

The draft will be forwarded after the summer recess to parliament, where Berlusconi’s governing coalition has a narrow majority.

“Final approval will put an end to the suffering of many women who are often forced to wear the burqa or niqab, which annihilates their dignity and gets in the way of integration,” said Barbara Saltamartini, vice president of the Freedom People party caucus, in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Comments (114)

1 2 3
  • doc glenn
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:22pm

    Only a criminal hides their identity

    Report Post »  
    • Teaparty-grammy
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:58am

      What I wonder about this “spokesman’s” statment is this: If “none of them” are wearing this stuff, then why are they kicking and screaming against this law being passed? They just don’t want to give up their stone-age ideas about how women should be treated. Aside from that, I have no problem with any society passing laws against Muslim practices to protect itself against these lice who will suck your country dry if you let them, just the way they are trying to do to ours.

      Report Post » Teaparty-grammy  
    • alabamaslammer
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:29am

      What about spiderman? Never know when the Italian Green Goblin will come out. Ninja suit muslim chick with mutant spider powers can’t swing into action cause. She holed up at home with no ninja suit.

      Report Post » alabamaslammer  
    • jkjk
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:16am

      Good for Italy. If you don’t like it, go back to your sand and caves! Or maybe they should be stoned to death. Such a peaceful religion that islam. It’s just funny, that if I went to the middle east sporting a cross around my neck, I think they’d have fun bowling with my head.

      Report Post » jkjk  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:11pm

      We have already seen an incident in Australia where a Muslim woman got away with a traffic crime because her face was completely covered. I agree with this ban.

      Report Post »  
    • KPEdwards
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:15pm

      @DOC GLENN

      Oh yes? Can I have your social security number then? That shouldn’t be a problem right? I mean unless you’re a criminal.

      Report Post »  
    • HankScram
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:51pm

      can someone help the mormons who are forced to wear undergarments by their church – the “mini-burqa”. when your religion starts telling you what clothes you need to wear, you’re under the spell of the devil. that‘s what I’d think every day strapping on my burqa or climbing into my mormon undergarments.

      Report Post »  
    • Reasoned
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 1:06pm

      Spiderman is exempt from this law. Don’t forget the original “white” Spiderman will be killed off and the new one is half black and half Latino. Oh and he may also be gay. LMAO! Yeah I’ll be going to see those movies. Geez, this country is really going to hell in a hand basket.

      Report Post »  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:14pm

    Why are you all suddenly for fascist government regulation of the dress of citizens? Oh…wait…it only affects MUSLIMS, whom you all despise.

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • Michael
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:56pm

      it’s not that we despise them, we don’t trust them because of the amount of radical people that have used items like this to cause damage in different places. Anyway when you leave your country and go to another, you don’t get the new resident country to change the laws to abide by your beliefs. You abide by their laws. If you can’t do that, then you go back to where you came from. When you leave a country to become a citizen of another country, you basically renounce your citizenship of the country you left and become a citizen of the new country. Due to the radicals that are using your religion, Muslim, to destroy another country then procedures has to be taken to guard against that. Showing peoples faces for identification is one way to do that. You can’t identify a person if their face is covered. People who cover their faces in our country are usually up to no good and we question them because of their appearance. Again if you don’t like it, leave it. To be a friend of mine, you have to prove yourself to me, I don’t care who you are or what your religion is. What you do in your homes and your places of worship is no concern to me. If you are plotting against my country, the By God, it is of interest to me. I will stop you any way I can if I feel threatened.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 12:02am

      That’s a great re-vamp of the communist logo as your pic, ARCHON. Still, you are what you are. You’re going to use ad hominem attacks. It’s a typical communist agitation tactic.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Steve
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:01am

      The Third Archon
      Using words like fascist and despise may seem to drive your point but it actually proves your disconnect and ignorance of the subject.

      Islam is an evil Political ideology cloaked in a personal religion
      They are commanded by their murdering pedophile prophet through their moon god to wage war against all non believers.
      they are indoctrinating their children to blow themselves up and take as many unbelievers as they can with them
      and it seems perfectly normal and safe to allow them to hide their appearance and possible weapons under a sheet as they walk through our city streets.

      Like I said disconnected and ignorant….

      Report Post »  
    • patriotwoman
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:02am

      Re-read the article. This is an expansion of an already existing law that includes MASKS, scarves, veils, and the like. It is a **security measure** designed to prevent crimes. It‘s in effect for the same reason that banks don’t allow people wearing masks to come in – even on Halloween.

      Report Post »  
    • hellnomo
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:38am

      Gosh as a concerned liberal, women, muslim women do not deserve their freedom.

      Report Post » hellnomo  
    • Mohawk77
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:55am

      Love your Communist logo. Makes sense given your statist comment you miscreant.

      Report Post »  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:59am

      THE THIRD ARCHON.
      You are no Archon of any sort. That would imply that you incorporate a modicom of wisdom in your thoughts. You do not.
      And…,as you have fully demonstrated here, you know NOTHING of the suffering of muslim women under the BRUTAL law of SHARIA!

      Report Post »  
    • Rickfromillinois
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:58am

      Once again you are showing your idiocy. EVERY government has a say in what the public in their country wears. Don’t believe me? Walk around downtown naked. Wear a mask and go into any store in your community and wait to see how long it takes for the police to come and talk to you unless it is Halloween or you are in New Orleans during Madi Gras. These people are not being attacked because of their religion. They are not being EXCUSED because of their religion.

      Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • TurnRight
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:12pm

    How about making the men who force their women to wear the Burqa be jailed for a year! It‘s not the woman’s fault, the women don’t want to be abused.

    Report Post »  
  • llotus
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:02pm

    We have a very good reason to worry about security. Why not ban them here? It would be easy for a male to wear the garb and conceil anything he wanted to. Ban them here. Lotus.

    Report Post »  
  • sabat56
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:58pm

    only bad people hide thier faces , in the cowboy movies. thats the only reason unless your society has men who cannot control themselves ,sub par mental control, animalistic ,savage, mentally they can be made to believe almost any nonsense say like the koran

    Report Post »  
  • BONETRAUMA
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:39pm

    those women are so hot!!!………..they sweat under their bee keeper suit.

    Report Post »  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:18pm

    Italy says NO to Terror-Sacks!

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • Carol Ingian
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:44pm

    Good job Italy!

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:54pm

      Italians like to see some skin. Off with the Burqa’s!

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Ella
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:30pm

    I just want to know how one can breath or speak and be heard when their entire face is covered.

    Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:43pm

      IF WE’RE lucky..they won’t for too long….
      Time to stand up to these killers of humanity

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:01pm

      The men who make their women wear covering for their whole face, except eyes, don’t want their women to speak or care if they breath or not. Did you know there are levels of Shari’a? Some have to cover every inch except hands and eyes, some can have their face exposed.

      Report Post »  
  • let us prey
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:27pm

    Viva Italia

    Report Post » let us prey  
  • TAKE_NO_PRISONERS
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:16pm

    When in Rome do as the Romans do. So take the Burqas off, no multiculturalism here.

    Report Post »  
  • PATTY HENRY
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:44pm

    It’s so simple. ISLAM is NOT a faith. IT IS AN IDEOLOGY. IT IS a POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. IT IS A CULT.

    Further: IT is SATAN on earth. IT has 0 to do with the GOD of ABRAHAM, the GOD of the UNIVERSE.
    WE have to love the Muslims, but hate SATAN’S venom..which is ISLAM.

    ALL of us have the obligation to MAN-UP and say NO WAY to anything that will EXPAND, EXTEND or ENHANCE ISLAM in any way, and that includes granting them permits to build “COMPETING City Halls ( Mosques)” in our Cities. IF there are any of you who have not read “THEY MUST BE STOPPED” by Brigette GABRIEL really owe it to yourself and your families and friends to know this information. It is a quick read, it’s so well researched. Find it on AMAZON for less than $ 10. YOU must know the reason that ISLAM is growing and ‘conquering’ hapless people…once in cannot get out…living under threats.

    Since they started in 700 AD they have been the main cause of wars and enslavement of people. They are straight from SATAN. THEY are EVIL walking (not all the people, but the IMAMS who should know better). ALL of us MUST stand up against this EVIL. I don‘t care if you don’t believe
    in GOD…that’s really YOUR problem, but I do care if you stand by and let these MURDERING CULTIST get any more power. BY GOSH…they already have their TROJAN horse in the WHITE HOUSE until 2012. UNTIL.

    Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • TrailBlazer66
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:20pm

      Great post! thanks for saying it for me.

      Report Post » TrailBlazer66  
    • muhamadhater
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:38pm

      Wow well put, its nice 2 see some sees it as I do… an evil child molesting, nothing 2 do with real religeion cult!!
      Death 2 Islam!!

      Report Post » muhamadhater  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:08pm

      PATTY HENRY,
      I also wanted to mention Gabrielle’s first book,“Because They Hate”.
      In this book she chronicles what happened to her birth country of Lebanon …, how it was DESTROYED by both the Peaceful Jihad and the Violent Jihad.

      We are all Dhimmis. Taqiiya is the operative word.

      Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:40pm

    Good for Rome bad for the USA all those Burga babes will be headed this way and we will be stupid enough to let them rome around with what ever under those outfits bombs guns ect

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:03pm

      You are actually calling the constitution stupid. We do have freedom of religion in this country and freedom of religion protects all religion, not just popular religion.

      Report Post »  
    • Steve
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:21pm

      dissentnow

      So I guess if my religion dictates to destroy the very country I claim to be apart of then thats OK?

      Report Post »  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:28pm

      I’m no fan of Islam but if you can show me where it says in the quran that the goal of Islam is to destroy the United States of America then, then i’ll retract my statement.
      On a side note, are you saying that certain parts of the constitution are wrong?

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:04pm

      What if my religion requires the burn offering of babies? IF a religion causes no harm, it’s welcome. But the only peaceful Muslim is one that isn‘t practicing their religion according to the Qu’ran. If there were, they would be outraged and have public disdain for the “few” radicals.

      Report Post »  
    • calonzap
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:07pm

      The burqa ban has nothing to do with religion. It’s a matter of safety for American citizens.

      Report Post »  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:23pm

      You guys are free to think as you wish but don’t ever call youselves constitutionalists. You can’t pick and choose which parts of the constitution that you wish to follow. It doesn’t work that way. You are either a constitutionalist or you are not. There is no middle ground.
      If you guys don’t like our constitution, thats fine. Please stop calling yourselves constitutionalists and please stop name-dropping our founding fathers. You know nothing about our constitution or our founding fathers.

      Report Post »  
    • Ripplemagne
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:41pm

      DissentNow, start reading articles by Sam Shamoun and Ali Sina. You‘ll be surprised what you’ll learn. For now, you can get started with this:

      http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/islamic-jihad-articles/war-is-deceit-the-divine-deception/

      I also suggest looking into “dar al harb” and “dar al Islam”.

      Report Post »  
    • Steve
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:33am

      @dissentnow
      My first posting that was supposed to be a response to your question was put as a new comment. This is the second part of that post

      Saura 9:29
      9:29 Fight [q-t-l] against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued

      Sura 9:33
      9:33 It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it superior over all religions, though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it).

      And when the sacred months are passed, kill those who join other gods with God wherever ye shall find them; and seize them, besiege them, and lay wait for them with every kind of ambush: but if they shall convert, and observe prayer, and pay the obligatory alms, then let them go their way, for God is gracious, merciful (9:5)

      Report Post »  
    • Teaparty-grammy
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:07am

      @ dissentnow who Posted: “You are actually calling the constitution stupid. We do have freedom of religion in this country and freedom of religion protects all religion, not just popular religion.”

      Yes, we have freedom of religion. But Islam is NOT a “religion”. ISLAM is a theocratic form of government hellbent on world dominance. What IDIOT is “down” with letting these lice overrun our country and institue their Caliphate? Have you not heard their “religious leaders” speaking on TV, advocating the establishment of a “worldwide caliphate”, and VIOLENCE to bring it about, if necessary? I don’t think the founding fathers had any intention of requiring us to sit still for this madness. Jefferson knew how to deal with the Muslims and their back-stabbing, double-dealing ways. From the halls of Montezuma, to the SHORES OF TRIPOLI. Bet they regretted grabbing that American ship and demanding ransom for it, don’t you? And he didn’t worry one damned bit about their “religious freedoms” when he sent the Marines over there to get our ship back, either!

      Report Post » Teaparty-grammy  
    • dissentnow
      Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:42am

      @ripplemagne
      How about you start reading the constitution.

      How about all of you start reading the constitution.

      Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:39pm

    Well, for now it will work. But once their birthrate makes them a political force in Italy and elsewhere, this will all be for naught. Nobody wants to face it, but the day will come when Islam rules Europe and perhaps the world……..WE’LL ALL PAY THEN FOR OUR WEAKNESS NOW.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • liberty1
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:36pm

    maybe they should stay covered up, have you seen some of these women…. yuk…

    Report Post » liberty1  
  • jim
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:35pm

    “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
    2 Corinthians 3:17

    Spirituality resides within, it is not a place, a piece of clothing… a fashion statement.

    Report Post » jim  
  • The Big Pickle
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:23pm

    Everytime I see a muslim in a barka I want to WR#WREQeqs them!

    Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:33pm

      Pickle … I’m happy to see you ..:) …. I’VE been thinking about your 8% issue. but I’ll save it for another day ….. “burp”

      Report Post »  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:45pm

      Stupid White people think Whites are 70 or 80 percent of the world population, if they only knew the truth that Whites are only 8 percent of the world population and dropping fast.

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • antrancher
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 9:04pm

      Big Pickle, we do not breed like cats!

      Report Post »  
  • nptden
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:23pm

    Religion gives you know right to be able to hide your identity in public. Time to tell these people to stay home if they have to.

    Report Post » nptden  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:21pm

    “But opponents of the ban cannot scream that is stems from anti-Muslim sentiments. The Italian law was sponsored by Souad Sbai, a Moroccan-born member of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative Freedom People party, who said she wanted to help Islamic women better integrate into Italian society.”

    Now we need Rep Keith Ellison to step it up and introduce a bill like this in the House! Wishful thinking?

    Report Post »  
    • jcizarter
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:34pm

      Yes, UBETHECHANGE, if Keith had to wear one, he would be trying to ban them.

      Report Post » jcizarter  
  • LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:20pm

    Damn why do we have so many freedoms in Amerika … we need to change the Constitution …asap

    Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:19pm

    Hate and Fear are the feelings of the Holy Spirit….

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • Christian Kalgaard
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:12pm

    hooray for Italy

    Report Post » Christian Kalgaard  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:16pm

      Next I hear the US will Ban Magic under ware and crosses

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:18pm

      Italy for Italians!

      Crusades II

      Rise up Christians! King Richard! No more muslims in europe!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:18pm

      Hooray for the Nazi’s in Italy

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • nptden
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:20pm

      Refreshing. A country with Common Sense.

      Report Post » nptden  
    • jollylama
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:21pm

      No Burqas… except for Michele Obama.. she’s so ugly she needs 2 Burqas just in case the first one breaks.. yikes!

      Report Post »  
  • oriondma05
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:11pm

    I wonder if Obummer would be on board for something like this?

    Report Post » oriondma05  
    • LOOKING_BOTH_WAYS
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:30pm

      It’s not Obama silly, It’s the Constitution, and a little thing called Congress & the States

      Evolution or Revolution ….. I‘m just glad the Environmentalist left a bunch of tree’s for me to hide behind as i shoot …………………………………………………………………………………

      Report Post »  
  • 2smart
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:08pm

    I guess that means there will not be any Casper the Friendly Ghost costume competitions in Italy.

    Report Post » 2smart  
    • tower7femacamp
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:15pm

      this lose of religious freedom is disgusting , from a country that
      gave Nazi’s safe passage to Brazil .

      Report Post » tower7femacamp  
  • calebgs83
    Posted on August 3, 2011 at 7:07pm

    All of Europe should ban he burqa. I don‘t see how so many conservatives don’t understand that Islam is fundamentally evil. Nobody would say that you can found a peaceful religion on the virtues of Hitler…why is it any different for Islam? Muhammad was a mass murdering pedophile.

    Report Post » calebgs83  
    • Steve
      Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:28pm

      And lets not forget it was the Muslim Brotherhood who with Hitler implemented the final solution to destroy the Jewish race…..but then again thats simply historical fact and we don’t want to let facts get in the way ….do we?

      Report Post »  
1 2 3

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love