The Burqa debate. A veiled woman's views.

Precisely why veiled womens' views need to be heard as the subjects of debate surrounding the veil encompass their lifestyle.

well n, theyre opinions can be heard as citezens but that's about it. We will use intelligence and common sense to determine the effect of burkhas in moderns society and their restrictions, if any to be placed on the issues I mentioned above. Someone saying " I want to do some thing because it makes me feel better about myself etc" is not relevant to a debate on law and society. We may live in a (comparatively )free country but there are rules based on common sense to follow. just because crack makes a crack addict feel good, doesn't mean we allow it throughout society

I respect your opinion, if that's the way you feel. I'd also like to clarify that I don't agree with Muslim women who wear the niqab and don't oblige to mandatory security checks. Most scholars would also agree that it is against the Sharia, so yes, I agree with you there. However, even though it may the case that some people believe it deters social interaction, I don't think that's a reason to ban something.

There is no way it should be out right banned.

However the debate has thrown up the contradictory nature of our legal system regarding our commitment to equality before the law.

Now I reject the view that the Niqab, Burka or headscarf are religious garments, on the grounds that there is no explicit requirement within the qu'ran for Muslim women to wear them.

They are culturally, now, why are some cultures afforded more freedoms than others within our society? For example a women wearing a niqab or burka is allowed to walk into and make use of a bank but someone wearing a motocycle helmet is not? This is clearly not equality before the law, as Burkas cover as much of your face as motorcycle helmets. Ideally I would like to see laws regarding dress liberalized so people can wear such garments in bank, but there will be equality before the law.

Another example is the allowance of head scarfs in shooping centers, but it is illegal to put your hood up.

Find this debate boring.

So much hoohah over a piece of a cloth.


Let's ignore the rising foodbanks highlighting the inequality in society.

So a large part of Britain cannot afford food to eat and live but this is top priority because a few people don't really like how a woman dresses.

Oh dear.

And I'm certain there will be veiled women who work in different services (with "intelligence and common sense") who can offer their own arguments from their own experience.

Banks and shops have the right to decline veiled customers for security reasons.

Banks and shops have the right to decline veiled customers for security reasons.

Just because there are debates on the burka does not mean that other issues are not discussed. It would be pointless for everyone to simply divert all their focus to the aforementioned issues, as we wouldn't make any more progress, it was be an inefficient use of our time with the opportunity cost of discussing other issues being extremely high.

Anyways there has been much made of the increase of use of food banks, the guardian has been pushing the inequality line for a long time ( can you provide some figures).

Anyways, you should accept that your political priories are are not always going to match up with everyone else's. This is a legitimate debate too have, shame you would rather shut it down than take part in it.

okay. So an oppressed person says they're not oppressed. Would you believe a woman who exhibits all the signs of being a victim of domestic violence when she claims she has a perfect relationship? No, because the signs of oppression are all there. Just like the burqa - the ultimate sign of a victim blaming, oppressive culture.

the dbate has spread into the nhs now, with a pointless costly review being done - hwever it was already shown to the health minister, that there are no known doctors in the nhs that wear a veil or bukha anyway - out fo choice. it does appear frankly that the veil wearing is a culture of the non professional dare I say it, benefit classes of muslims. those professional muslims are far less likely to wear burkhas. In fact it was shown in news that burkha and veil wearing was quite rare in uk even a decade ago - it seems to have become more common than it was in those classes anyway - perhaps as more of a statement making excersise or visible totem, than any religious adherence.

What would your thoughts be if a group of African Americans walked around in rags and dangling chains in a hypothetical cultural practice descending from the slave trade? Or if a group of Jews decided to walk around with a yellow Star of David badge? Regardless of choice, would you not think it was an act of self-oppression?

Okay. So an oppressed person says they're not oppressed. Would you believe a woman who exhibits all the signs of being a victim of domestic violence when she claims she has a perfect relationship? No, because the signs of oppression are all there. Just like the burqa - the ultimate sign of a victim blaming, oppressive culture.

What would your thoughts be if a group of African Americans walked around in rags and dangling chains in a hypothetical cultural practice descending from the slave trade? Or if a group of Jews decided to walk around with a yellow Star of David badge? Regardless of choice, would you not think it was an act of self-oppression?

Well, personally, I think, living in the UK where freedom of expression is a civil liberty, anyone and everyone should be able to express their religious beliefs, even if that does include wearing the Burqa, however, in airports, I do believe that women should remove their burqas so they can be identified and obviously checked like every other ordinary person...

we cant ban something that interferes with social interaction, otherwise wed ban in entirety hoodies, goth make up etc etc that some people consider anti social too. being anti social maybe annoying and interfere with integration - but it isn't necessarily illegal. that is a n issue for the muslim community to deal with itssel- if it truly want to integrate in the west, get respect etc. But there are much bigger issues relateding to burkha veil etc, like people working in nhs, treating patients in the veil? wearing weil in court. a police officer wearing a veil - is it appropriate. there are socres of similar exapmples. these clothings of ritual were not designed for modern life, they were designed for a pre-medival life that was much more simple, less complex etc. Im not saying all the above probs are occurring now - but that's why we are having the debate - to establish the potential issues. My personal opinion- I don't see the sense of earing any such- as you said its only following the opinion of speficic people ie some' scholars' That doesn't translate to a religious obligation - anybody could form a cult and orer follwoers to dress in a certain way. Strictly Islamically speaking, If you are going on about obligation of women to cover up - what about obligation also in islam for women not even to be mixing with men in public - that is ignored (largely ) in western society, so why not dress code too?

Well, it would almost be an act of symbolic self-flagellation which should surely be discouraged?

Well, personally, I think, living in the UK where freedom of expression is a civil liberty, anyone and everyone should be able to express their religious beliefs, even if that does include wearing the Burqa, however, in airports, I do believe that women should remove their burqas so they can be identified and obviously checked like every other ordinary person...