(NL Times) Justice Minister Foort van Oosten (VVD) will pursue a formal law to prohibit visible religious symbols, such as kippahs or headscarves, for special enforcement officers (BOA’s) following a sharply critical advisory from the Council of State.
The Council of State rejected the government’s first attempt to ban religious symbols through an administrative decree, known in Dutch law as a general administrative order (AMvB). The council said such a decree cannot be used because there is no law that currently allows it. In other words, van Oosten cannot enforce the ban without first changing the law.
“The statutory basis for this decision is missing,” the Council of State said, noting that the proposal conflicts with constitutional protections for freedom of religion and belief.
