Comments on: Should Britain ban the Burka?

By: Berber Anna

Berber Anna — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:05:17 +0000

Do people not see the flaw in this kind of reasoning? They feel that the burqa (or, in other cases that I’ve seen discussed, the headscarf or the yarmulke or the crucifix) is either being forced onto people, or is a symbol of an oppressive belief system. So they propose, as a solution, to force people to part with these symbols. How is that any better than the system behind the symbols? You don’t reach people, you can’t teach them the follies of religion, if you’re going to tell them you’ll punish them if they don’t see things your way. People who perceive themselves as being under attack will dig their heels and will never truly listen to your point — they may follow it outwardly, but they won’t GET it.

Education, not oppression, people.

By: polly

polly — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:28:11 +0000

I, like some of you , have lived in Saudi arabia. It seems to me that the women are forced to cover, by the men, so that they (the lady) does not attract other men. The thinking is that it is the woman to blame if they get unwanted attention from men and therefore not the mans fault if he has to rape her or such like. Im sure you have seen cases where women have been raped and are stoned as its their doing! It is probably safer in saudi to keep covered in order to keep out of trouble. Fortunately, the majority of men in the U.k dont seem to be easily tempted, so I would think these lovely ladies could go about their business un-covered, with out fear of getting into trouble. I also fully support the ban here.

By: Amina

Amina — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:54:59 +0000

I am muslim and know that the burqa has no place in british society.. it is for these very extremist views that I choose to live in this free and democratic country..

Face covering has been worn by many men and women in parts of arabia/sahara to protect face from sand… It is also part of some cultures… but these “nijas” that we see on the street of britains streets are a new wave of wahabbi extremist coming from Saudi… THIS SHOULD BE STOPPED.

I fully support the banning of burqa in British society.

Open minded and moderate muslims will understand why, only the extremists will oppose it… If you want to live such an Islamic life away from the kuffar and idolatorers.. then go live in Saudi/Yemen and see if you can claim your benefits there.. Touche!

Wasalaam Amina

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:21:49 +0000

Cor blimey it is a THORNY ISSUE. Feel free to rip holes in my woolly thinking and bleeding heart liberalism.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:20:05 +0000

We all draw the line somewhere. I remember watching African villagers with their breasts out and wondering about cultural norms and mores. Do their men get excited all the time? Is it just so ‘normal’ to see boobs that it no longer excites?

This is how we, as westerners, feel about arms and calves and head hair. It is normal for us.

If a woman chooses to cover herself as a result of cultural norms, can I criticise?
I am not really sure I can, because I am not comfortable naked in public either.
I draw the line in a different place, you see.

We are all expected by our culture to cover up.
However, I am truly torn between my respect for women, my desire to promote gender equality and my understanding of cultural differences.
No man should ever be able to force a woman to cover up.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:13:44 +0000

While I consider myself to be as feminist as a man can be, and while I also abhor the oppression of women by any means, I believe the argument about covering flesh has been skewed by public perceptions of the Muslim faith.
All cultures (including western) require us to cover our flesh. The amount of coverage varies from place to place and from culture to culture. I cannot walk down the street with my willy out, for example.
Nor can a woman walk about bare-breasted – but I can. Is that oppressive? Are women ‘forced’ to cover their breasts in order to not inadvertently titillate men? (no pun intended). It could be argued that women would be at risk of sexual violence if they walked about with bare breasts in a culturally unusual way, for example late at night on the Euston Road.

By: Berber Anna

Berber Anna — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:09:00 +0000

Oh hi there, topic necromancer.
I assume your female relatives will all wear burqas or niqaabs if they ever go on holiday in a country with an Islamic tradition, then?

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:42:55 +0000

This is Britain for fcks sakes!!! Not the Far East! If they want to wear the Burka the they should Burka off back to their home land! Dark windscreens on cars are not alloud so why is the Burka or full face vails aloud for Islamic drivers???? How do the police know if the woman, man under the burka has a UK licence or even a Ban???? Ban it NOW!!!

By: tina

tina — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:47:22 +0000

the video has gone, I really wanted to see it.

i think that the niqab is particularly frustrating to western women who have gone through years of struggle to win the rights we have now. the wearing of the niqab can be seen as almost an affront, a kind of anti feminist thing. come to think of it, I’m a bit surprised the right wing don’t want to adopt it for the rest of us.

you shouldn’t need to hide behind any kind of a covering to be free from the threat of sexual attack. if the need for modesty is because men are so untrustworthy, then perhaps they should wear them too as getting out of a niqab would certainly slow down any random naughtyness.

By: James Grant

James Grant — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:37:51 +0000

My wife and I are travelling to the middle east soon. If we both wore Burkas and presented our passports questions would be asked as to who is who. If I or my wife travelled alone qustions would still be asked because of the christian names on the passport. If I changed my name to Fatima Ahmed by deed poll and used her passport no would be asked, regardless of gender, perfect disguise for all terrorists.
Ban this degrading garment in the UK and Europe, it is hostile to all western values.