The Netherlands' new ban on veils is severely undermined on the first day of its application, after the police made clear it would not try to carry it out seriously, the Independent newspaper reported.
The new law prohibits wearing anything that covers the face, including burqa, ski masks or motorcycle helmets, in public places such as schools, hospitals, trains or buses.
Anyone entering one of these places wearing a niqab will be asked to remove or fined between 150 and 450 euros. The legislation extends to buildings and public transport, and there is no prohibition on covering the face on the street.
The newspaper pointed out that the law was interpreted as very useless, even on the first day, after it was found that no one wants to actually implement. Police said they did not consider the arrest of women wearing the niqab a priority.
An organization for transport companies said bus and train drivers would not try to enforce the law, especially if the police would not support them if they needed it.
The same message came from the Federation of National Hospitals, which said in a statement that the ban on veiled women entering hospitals is the task of the police, not its staff.
Although the government insisted that the law was not aimed at Muslims in particular, it was welcomed by far-right politicians, such as Gert Wilders, who called the ban a "historic day."
It is noteworthy that the Netherlands is the latest in a group of European countries that prohibit or restrict the wearing of the veil, namely France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark.