Muslim headscarf woman forced to quit job

BRUSSELS: Belgian leaders voiced anger on Thursday after a Muslim woman was driven to quit her job following death threats received by her boss, who was warned to sack her for wearing an Islamic headscarf.

In the latest development in a case which surfaced late last year, 31-year-old Naima Amzil decided this week to resign from her job after her employer was sent a seventh threatening letter including two bullets.

Politicians expressed respect for the decision but outrage that it should be necessary. "I am shocked," said Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. "We will do everything we can to find those behind this," he said.

Last November, Rik Remmery, who runs a food-processing firm in western Belgium, received a letter demanding he sack Amzil if she insisted on wearing a headscarf to work. The letter, signed by a group calling itself "New Free Flanders," accused him of being "a bad Belgian who collaborates with Muslims," and threatened both Remmery and his family. afp

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