Do you agree with Jack Straw's comments about muslim women who wear veils can make relations difficult?

Question

The Blackburn MP says the veil is a "visible statement of separation and of difference" and he asks women visiting his surgery to consider removing it.

Should veil's be worn in the UK. Is it alright to wear a balaclava at all times?

Answer 1

i agree, i like to see who im talking to too!! theyre lucky he didnt make them strip off to make sure they wern't carrying bombs!!

Answer 2

What is all the fuss about saying Muslim women should take off the veil when in conversation? If there was a female Muslim MP in Parliament wearing a veil when speaking in the house of commons, would that be accepted, I dont think so and hope NOT. Let us not lose are British way of life. The UK is worrying to much about Immigrants and their religions and cultures. What about OURS? If they dont like it, there are plenty of flights available to go back, but unfortunately not any free benefits where they are going..

Answer 3

Firstly let me say that I despise the Labour party and what they have done to this country.Just to establish where I am coming from
Secondly Jack Straws comments have been blown up out of all proportion by trouble making elements within the Muslim community.
Apparently he did not 'demand' but 'asked' women who came to his surgery to remove their veils so that he could speak with them face to face.
The statement that the veil is a "visible statement of seperation and difference"is fact.That's exactly what it is.
Muslim law does not state that the veil HAS to be worn,it is a matter of choice.
If Muslims wish to live in th UK they must obey UK law and if they can't do that because of religious beliefs then they should go elsewhere

Answer 4

OK, so lets suppose myself and my wife decide to go and live in Afghanistan ( just work with me on this..!) and my wife wants to walk down the street in a pair of shorts and a vest top or a cropped t-shirt....how far do you think we would get before my wife was called a western whore and we were a) arrested or b) stoned for not following and respecting their religious beliefs. I would also request that my daughter should be taught in an english speaking school and should she have any religious leanings, then I would want that school to be a faith school.....

How likely do you that would be?

some of the biggest chips on shoulders belong to British Muslims. I watched a Muslim rights campaigner on the news today ranting about the islamaphobia in this country, and how these poor put upon Muslims are made to try and live western lives.

Look, get an atlas out and look where you have chosen to make your home. try and ignore the part that we actually do not airbrush out Israel on atlas's you can buy in the UK ( as opposed to an atlas bought in the mid-east where they refuse to acknowledge the existence of Israel, so it's just a blob on their maps, but i'm sure our atlas will be the next thing to come under attack from the muslim community.) You have elected to live in the west, and as such you should have some kind of respect for the rules of the country you live in.

It is very tiresome to listen on a daily basis to Muslims decrying the UK and everything we have to offer. We are far from perfect, but if it is really that bad, and that restrictive a country to live in, then stop complaining about it, stop claiming that a jihad is the only way to get ahead and find somewhere else where you can live your lives according to your beliefs. And good luck to you.

I'm sorry you find our country so restrictve and limiting - but you know the answer. This is not an anti-muslim rant. I am blissfully 100% faith-free and I am not any more against Islam than i am against christianity, or any other cult. What I am against is lack of respect and that is what I am seeing more and more.

Answer 5

I understand why it might make people uncomfortable to talk to someone with a veil on, but it is part of the Muslim religion. I think there are times where a veil should be removed eg. passport photos, but i don't think anyone has the right to make people take off signs of their religion because it looks different. At the moment many people are worried about terrorism etc. but this is taking security too far. It is not a statement of separation and difference, it is a statement of faith. I feel this is discrimination against Muslims.

Answer 6

No.
I don't think it's a good idea 2 oppress these women further, they R uncomfortable/constrictive 2 wear.
Praps, hopefully some kind Muslim men will B understanding & banish it 4ever.
It's an indiviual choice whether they wear full burkas but it is usually demanded pressure from the immediate family.

I've just read a question about this very subject 2 mins ago.
" Would it be ok if I keep my crash-helmet on 24/7? ".
The Thinker Above.

Gotta point, I think.

Answer 7

I think this is just another step along the way of attempted Muslim domination of this country - the Muslims do not seem to like our laws or customs and from what I see do not make much effort to integrate with us.
I think that this government in particular has leant over so far backwards to please this minority that Blair & Co. are in danger of meeting themselves coming the other way.
What is it with Muslims and their religion that warrants the extra special cossetting and protected treatment lavished on them?
Not a day goes by without some item of news - Muslim policeman wont work outside Israeli Embassy - Females have to have special theatre gowns in hospitals - a Council makes all headstones in a cemetery face Mecca, whether the deceased is Muslim or not! - A Royal Navy warship orders only Halal meat for its crew, which includes only one Muslim . Muslims arrested in drugs bust on Teesside are provided with a cell which has been specially cleaned for them and is equipped with a prayer mat, Koran and would you believe it, a compass as well, their community leaders are also consulted before Police operations take place! - Muslim preachers of hate get away with all kinds of nasty remarks in public without fear of action by the Police - I could go on with more examples, but everyone reads newspapers and watches the news on television and sees it happening every day - I am not inventing this story and I am not a racial bigot, but what do these people want?
Whatever it is it probably won't be enough, ever.

These are observations that anyone with eyes and ears can make - so please don't read anything else into them.

Answer 8

Absolutely not. I thought we had freedom of choice in Britain, it's their choice and it says in the Koran that women should be covered, I suppose it depends on how devout the woman and her family is. And while I am white and Christian I wouldn't expect anyone to tell me I couldn't wear the cross, so why should we tell them not to wear the veil.

Answer 9

the thing is they chose to come to the UK right....and if they are political refugees REMEMBER they trawled thru umpteen countries to get to ours.............none of the others have free social, housing etc etc.........

Much as it really galls me I have to side with the French here where they have banned the wearing of the veil and covers during the school................

Whist Straw can be a complete idiot at times, again rather think he has a point..............but you watch the bleeding heart come out about their religious freedom.............

Fem 2 : just a point on your vien...................did you know they refuse to strip down when coming thru customs etc.and again cite the RIGHTS..hmmmm lets see I enter the USA and for some reason upset the immigration people the chances of me NOT obeying them are NIL [and rightly so] but what does the UK do....oh ok off you go.................

Answer 10

of course! if women have to wear veils when they visit muslim countries, then muslim women who visit non-muslim countries should be made to remove them or go back to where they are supposed to wear them

Answer 11

Yes. How the hell can you have an intelligent discussion with someone wearing a bag over their head? You can't go into a bank wearing a crash helmet, but you can wear a veil. Isn't that discrimatory towards bikers ?? This is not a Muslim country, they should respect OUR customs and beliefs first.