The government wanted an open and integrated society so disguises were unacceptable, meaning the burqa and full-face covers should not be allowed in public, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli said yesterday in Parliament.
Warning against sensationalising the issue or linking it to religious or racial considerations, she said that, to clarify related legal provisions, her ministry, together with the ministries of justice and home affairs, had drawn up draft guidelines. These were being discussed at Cabinet level.
She was speaking during the debate on the budget of the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.
Clyde Puli (PN) made the case for the prohibition of the burqa, saying his objection hailed from security concerns, the upholding of women’s rights and the best interests of the community, rather than from religious or racial considerations.
Clyde Puli made the case for the prohibition of the burqa, saying his objection hailed from security concerns, the upholding of women’s rights and the best interests of the community, rather than from religious or racial considerations
The idea behind legal provisions banning the wearing of a mask, driving of a car with tinted glass or wearing a crash helmet when not riding a motorcycle was that anonymity eroded the community spirit, he said. In this regard, politicians had a particular duty.
Referring to Zygmunt Bauman, Mr Puli stressed that the political class had to prevent the dismantling of a society’s togetherness and to promote the common good.
The recent debate about the burqa was not sparked by politicians but they were reflecting a public debate, Mr Puli said.
A strong appeal for social integration was made by Ċensu Galea (PN). Noting that his hometown hosted residents from 103 nationalities, he applauded the local school’s approach where children using 43 different languages interacted and were educated together.Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici (PN) spoke on the Industrial Tribunal, saying its legal standing had to be addressed following a constitutional ruling last June. Marthese Portelli (PN) appealed for the strengthening of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.
Deborah Schembri (PL) stressed that although laws were important to promote equality and a better quality of life, people’s lives were transformed only by their enforcement. The efforts of the Consultative Council for the South of Malta to identify the region’s problems and made proposals were raised by Silvio Parnis (PL). Welcoming the initiative aimed at easing the entry of vacant property into the market, Charles Buhagiar (PL), outlined what the Building Industry Consultative Council planned to do.
This include the introduction of a skills card in the construction industry and the launching of an IT platform about environment-friendly building products and services.
Referring to the books donated by the Malta Gay Rights Movement to the Education Division, Dr Dalli said they had been donated to be placed in the school libraries and to make teachers more aware of these realities.
The education minister’s decision not to distribute the books to pupils was not motivated by the contents but by parents’ concerns, she added. Winding up the debate, Dr Dalli noted that, following a public consultation exercise launched soon after last year’s Budget, a Bill was drafted providing for the setting up of an independent commission, answerable to Parliament, to safeguard human rights. The draft law would be moved in the House soon.