The Dutch government is planning to introduce legislation "as soon as possible" to ban full-length veils, known as burkas, from being worn in public, Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk said Friday.

"The Cabinet finds it undesirable that face-covering clothing -- including the burka -- is worn in public places for reasons of public order, security and protection of citizens," Verdonk said in a statement.

The government is citing security issues to deflect criticism that the move is a violation of the country's constitutional guarantee against religious discrimination.

The idea is "an overreaction to a very marginal problem," said Ayhan Tonca of CMO, the main Dutch Muslim organization. "It's just ridiculous."

The majority of the Dutch parliament has previously said it would approve the ban. However, upcoming elections on Nov. 22 could bring changes to the government that may end up killing the legislation.

The issue has become a controversial one throughout Europe where similar calls for a ban have been heard in Britain and France.

Former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw recently said he wanted Muslim women to give up the full-face veil. His sentiments were supported by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In Holland, former nationalist fringe policies have slowly become more centrist.

Adopted ideas include holding asylum-seekers in detention and making would-be immigrants watch videos of homosexuals kissing and of topless women on the beach during visa examinations.

Additionally, everyone must learn to speak Dutch. Muslim clerics are on alert when speaking during their sermons for fear of being deported.

In the city of Utrecht, officials have cut some welfare benefits to woman who insist on wearing burkas to job interviews. They claim the women do not want to work since they know they will not be hired if they wear the covering.

The Netherlands is home to about one million Muslims, about six per cent of the population of 16 million.