THE HAGUE, 13/07/07 - The Party for Freedom (PVV) wants wearing of face-covering garments for Islamic women to become a criminal offence. The rightwing party of Geert Wilders put forward a private members bill for a burqa ban in the Lower House yesterday.

Wearing a burqa or niqab in public places should according to the PVV be banned for the promotion of integration, emancipation and safety and the protection of the democratic constitutional state. Wilders and MP Fritsma want offenders to be punished with a maximum of 12 days in prison or a second-category fine, meaning a maximum of 3,350 euros.

On 10 October 2005, Wilders previously sought a burqa ban, and on 20 December 2005, the Lower House adopted this motion. "The previous cabinets however never implemented the motion. The present cabinet is not planning to carry it out either," said Wilders yesterday. He wants to force through the implementation of the motion via the proposed bill.

The chances are however small that a majority wants to punish wearing a burqa with a prison sentence. Additionally, other parties will likely not accept that Wilders makes a distinction between a burqa and other materials covering the face; the PVV does not want to make wearing certain motorbike helmets and balaclavas a criminal offence.

Wilders did say yesterday on radio programme Stand.nl that he would be willing to also ban balaclavas if a Lower House majority would otherwise not emerge for his proposal. According to a poll by Stand.nl a large majority considers 'wearing a burqa should be banned.' Seventy-eight percent agreed with this statement, and 22 percent disagreed.