Veiled Moroccan-born Belgian resigns amid death threats

Naima Amzil, a veiled Moroccan-born Belgian, has resigned from her job to save the life of her employer who received death threats urging him to dismiss the veiled employee.

The company manager, Rik Vannieuwenhuyse, has received seven death threats from an extreme right organization dubbed "Nouvelle Flandre libre" (new free Flanders).

Despite the threats, Vannieuwenhuyse had refused to dismiss Naima, 31, nor did he accept her suggestion to take off the veil in the workplace.

The Moroccan-born woman finally decided to resign after her boss received Wednesday an envelope containing two bullets.

King Albert II of Belgium had received last January Naïma Amzil and the company manager, and lauded their courage, urging them not to give in to the blackmail.

This case has prompted a wave of solidarity in Flandre, where Vannieuwenhuyse's company is based. Thousands of people have signed a petition to express support to Amzil.