Woman Fined for Wearing a Burka In Public

Result !! Just need to do the same in the UK now ! (Taken from Sky News)

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5:03pm UK, Tuesday May 04, 2010

Nick Pisa, In Rome

A woman queuing in an Italian post office has been fined 500 euros (£430) for wearing a burkha - the first case of its kind in the country.

Burkha penalty: Italian police have issued a fine to a woman wearing a veil

Amel Marmouri, 26, was handed the penalty after being spotted by local municipal police.

Under Italian anti-terrorist laws brought in during the 1970s to fight political activists, it is illegal for a person to be seen in a public place with their face covered.

The rule has never been properly enforced but earlier this year the mayor of Novara, where Ms Marmouri lives, introduced new local laws.

We knew about the law and I know that it's not against my religion but now Amel will have to stay indoors. I can't have other men looking at her.

Amel Marmouri's husband Ben Salah Braim

They banned any clothing that "prevents the immediate identification of the wearer inside public buildings, schools and hospitals".

Novara's mayor Massimo Giordano is a member of the anti-immigration Northern League Party who have campaigned for a clampdown on immigration and building of mosques.

Mr Giordano said: "I signed the new regulations for reasons of security but also so that people who came to live in our city are aware and respect our traditions.

Clampdown on mosques

"The regulations in Novara specifically cover people wearing clothing that prevents them from being identified in a public place and a post office is a public place."

Police chief Paolo Cortese said: "The fine was given because the woman was inside the post office at the time, which is a public building."

Muslim groups in Italy have insisted that Italian laws must be respected.

Imam Izzedin Elzir, president of the Islamic Community and Organisations Union in Italy, said: "We are for the freedom of women and against veils of any kind and Italian laws must be respected."

Ms Marmouri's husband Ben Salah Braim, 36, said: "I just don't know where we are going to get 500 euros to pay the fine.

"We thought as she was going to the mosque she was OK to wear the burkha.

"We knew about the law and I know that it's not against my religion but now Amel will have to stay indoors. I can't have other men looking at her."

The case comes just days after Belgium's lower house of parliament voted unanimously to prohibit women from wearing full face veils in public.

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