ROME-The Lombardy Regional Councial has proposed a ban of the burqa and niqab along with an urban Daspo to those who wear them in public.

 The Northern League of Venice proposed the ban of the Muslim face covering and believe that the Daspo should be extended to men if they are forcing woman to wear the veil. The leader of the group, Alex Bazzaro, stated that “the niqab is a violation of women's rights. I don't know of any other religious denominations that require hiding one's face.

 Bazzaro, along with the councilors, Riccardo Brunello, Giovanni Giusto, Paolo Tagliapietra, and Nicola Gervasutti signed the ban.

 There was a pushback from different parties of the council concerning the ban. Bazzaro also stated that, “We are, however, open to dialogue and any reasoning on the issue and we will bring the motion to the City Council.” To this point, Councilor Michele Zuin, of Forza Italia said the ban was, “a bit cutting” and continued by saying, “we are certainly against the Daspo.” Gianfranco Bettin, a member of the center-left, expressed that, "in the anxiety of launching yet another ideological-propaganda crusade, the League attacks (its own) Minister of the Interior, who would not enforce the laws in force on public dress".

 The day before yesterday, a motion was approved by the Lombard Regional Councial against the burqa in public buildings.

 On the other hand, a motion was rejected that would have allowed the government to evaluate the extension of the ban in schools.

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