On November, 17 the government of the Netherlands adopted a decision on the total ban on wearing Muslim veil in public places, which ended up a decade-long debate. “The government considers it to be unacceptable, that cloth covering face be used in public places out of public order and security concerns,” clarified the representatives of Dutch government.

The current legislation imposes a partial ban on wearing chador, an enveloping garment hiding the body from head down to legs, and yashmak, face screen that covers up the whole face leaving only the eyes seen, in public places and schools of the country. Some Muslim Dutch organisations believe that the ban may offend more than a million Muslims – exactly the number of Muslims residing in the country, though only about several dozen women actually wear the veil. Earlier the special committee came to the conclusion that such a ban does not contradict Dutch laws.

The plans of the government, according to Guardian, are in striking contrast with the image of the country, where euthanasia is allowed and prostitution and drug addiction are tolerated.

Social and religious tensions have mounted up considerably since 2004, especially after the murder of director Theo Van Gogh by an activist of Moroccan descent for the former’s depiction of the fate of women in Islam societies in his films.