The Belgian parliament's vote to ban the burka could set the stage for similar moves across western Europe, where citizens fear that growing Muslim populations may pose a threat to liberal and secular values.
Nicolas Sarkozy, French president, who has repeatedly said the burka is "not welcome" in his country, has ordered a bill that would forbid its appearance in public places. Politicians in the Netherlands and Italy have pushed for such measures.
"It does clear the way for other countries that are equally uncomfortable about the visibility of Islam in the public space," Shada Islam, a senior analyst at the European Policy Centre, a Brussels think-tank, said in the wake of the Belgian vote.
FT.com / UK - Europe watches Belgian burka ban
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