Netherlands: Gyms shouldn't ban headscarves

Netherlands: Gyms shouldn't ban headscarves

Women with a headscarf should be able to do sports, integration minister Eberhard van del Laan said in answer to a question by the PVV Monday.

Though gyms are free to make their own rules regarding the clothing of visitors, women and girls with a headscarf should be able in principle to exercise, says the politician. According to Van der Laan, state secretary Jet Bussemaker (Sport) will raise the issue with gyms.

According to Van der Laan this is a 'constitutionally grounded freedom'. He says that banning the headscarf is only permitted if, for example, security is at issue. Indeed, schools will be banning headscarves. [ed: the ban is only on burkas and veils covering the face]

Bussemaker already said in the past that women with a burkini should be able to go to a pool.

Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)

See also:
* Netherlands: Burkini good for integration
* Netherlands: Muslim sues gym for headscarf ban
* Netherlands: Proposed ban on burkas in schools