DutchNews.nl - Fundamentalist Christian party takes ban on women to Europe

Fundamentalist Christian party SGP is to ask the European court of human rights to uphold its ban on women becoming MPs.

The SGP opposes voting rights for women but was forced to open its prospective MP list after a ruling by the Dutch high court in April.

The court then ruled women have the right to be included on the party's official list of candidates and the state has a duty to ensure they have this right in practice.

Freedom of religion

In doing so, the court put equal rights legislation above freedom of religion rules.

The SGP operates according to a strict interpretation of the Bible and believes that the country should be governed 'entirely on the basis of the ordinances of God'.