Dutch cabinet backs partial Islamic burqa ban

Muslim women wearing various type of Islamic veils (closewise from top left): a hijab; a niqab; a burqa and a tchador

The Dutch cabinet on Friday approved a partial ban on wearing the face-covering Islamic veil, including in schools, hospitals and on public transport. "Face-covering clothing will in future not be accepted in education and healthcare institutions, government buildings and on public transport," the government said in a statement after the cabinet backed Interior Minister Ronald Plasterk's bill.