Are some Muslims over reacting to Jack Straw's request for women to remove their veils?

Question

Jack Straw has made a request, and opened a debate. He is NOT demanding that women remove the veil. Do some Muslims look for an excuse to pick on a comment, twist it into something more sinister than it is, and blow it out of all proportion? What do you think?

I am not a racist.....I know many non radical Muslims who are lovely!

Shah Tabi - Your comments are very immature and an example of the over reaction I am talking about. Jack Straw has not said that he intends to ban the veil.

You say that it is wrong not to wear the veil, but there are many, many Muslim scholars who say that it is ok not to wear the veil as long as your head is covered.

Shah Tabi - I would be interested to hear your reasons for over reacting, and your calm REASONED arguments for the veil

Hitechmal: I am sure that Jack Straw did not mean to upset Muslim women. He would certainly not have asked them to remove any other items of clothing. His comments were about showing the face, and in this country reading someone's face has a lot to do with communication. Some people here do find it disconcerting to be confronted by somebody who's face is covered. If I were to go to Iran I would certainly adhere to the dress code over there so that I did not offend my hosts.

Most answerers seem to be of the oppinion that women should not wear the veil in England. I must admit that as it is acceptable to leave the veil off in Muslim teaching, maybe people who choose to live in England should be prepared to compromise by not wearing the veil.

Answer 1

If they want to be accepted, then they have to let us see them. This doesn't mean abandoning the headscarf completely, just the veil so we can actually see who it is we're talking to and communicate better.

An interesing aside on the topic of Muslim over reaction.
The Pope makes a historical quote and Muslims riot, destroy and kill a nun.
A gunman kills 5 Amish schoolgirls...and the Amish preach forgiveness and love.

Answer 2

If you go on holiday to a muslim country...and are female ofcourse, you have to cover up...why should it be so outrageous to remove them here if that would be the equivalent? Everything seems to be twisted into an exaggeration and suddenly there are people burning flags and protesting in the streets...not the best way to show that you're a decent human being now is it. Nobody is forcing anyone to remove their veils..but think about youths that have been banned from wearing hoodies and caps in shopping centres...why should these veils be considered any different? I'm not racist, just think it's unfair that certain things must be adhered to but muslims are immune, incase it causes more trouble... i may be wrong it's just how i see it.

Answer 3

Talk about touchy..... as you say it is a request not a demand.

Jack Straw has his rights as do the Muslims, if he prefers to see his constituents without a full veil then he should be able to do so, especially as the Muslim women can still maintain their decency within the eyes of Allah by wearing a veil.

I must confess though to not expecting a great surge of Muslim women going to see their MP anyway as wouldn't those who advocate the full veil at all times (i.e. the fundamentalist and radical men) see this as 'Men's business' and beneath a woman?

This is the UK. People from any ethnic, social or religious background MUST make the effort to ADAPT to the host nation and its ways, not the other way around. Consequences of this are alienation from within and not from the white English christian society as large.

The normal every day Muslims we all know and like need to take control of these radicals or at least let us know how to do it otherwise we're going to go further away from harmonisation and more towards segregation and more violence, bombings and hate.

To all English people regardless of who you are, who you worship or where you come from, stop sitting on the fence and make your voice heard to stop this radicalisation.

Answer 4

Not too long ago certain native women went about their business
without covering their tops, I don't mean their head. They were
considered a tourist attraction. Later colonial powers required
them to cover up their "indecencies".
Much later the women at home of the colonial powers began to
uncover their tops.

It is better that men don't decree what women wear or not wear.
But I guess they want to fight with fashion designers over having
power over women' wear.

However I am uncomfortable when talking to people wearing
dark and reflective eye shade. I will be wary to talk to anyone
wearing a kerchief which covered their mouth and nose.

I am suspicious of anyone fully covered in a public place.
A passenger plane could be used as a missile. A disguised
religious attire is really useful for bad intentions. A tigress could
also kill and eat you, despite being female.

And Jack Straw is making a stand for his own safety. Personally
he does not want to know previously- unknown way to kill a
politician to happen to himself. Respect his right.

Answer 5

It's only because the indigenous population are all 'mouth strapped' and no longer allowed to have freedom of expression in the UK, that Jack Straw's comments have hit the headlines. It's interesting how the indigenous population are told they live in a multi racial, multi cultural society - I don't remember anyone ever asking them if that was what they wanted. Now the integration issue is all one way - the indigenous population must make the effort to integrate. That's impossible when many areas of the country have become self imposed ghettos more akin to countries overseas. I don't remember there being any restrictions on immigrants buying property anywhere they wanted - not much integration there, so for the indegenous population to integrate they have to either move or regularly visit one of these areas. We are ONLY human animals and we still have animal instincts - just like ants, foxes, wasps, elephants - try introducing foreign species into their natural habitat to see what happens. Still I suppose it all boils down to vote creation for politicians. I feel sorry for immigrants to the UK they must feel totally out of it because of the comfort factor of living in their own community - no wonder they're sensitive about just about anything anyone says they feel is directed towards them. It's difficult to feel comfortable in a country with so many unsettled immigrants - 3,000 Polish immigrants living rough, hundreds of criminal immigrants roaming the land, Eastern European immigrants running extortion gangs, prostitution, slavery, child labour. The country is in a state of controlled anarchy - but our elected representatives are too busy feathering their nests to do something about it. I feel sorry for our genuine immigrants especially now the 'yobs' have started to be active again.

Answer 6

No Great surprise that they over react. Expect some rioting and burning of Jack effigies soon. The good old Muslim can do and say what they like but GOD forbid we say something about the Muslim way of life and culture.
I am not a racist but the way things are going i am becoming so intolerant of the Muslim Religion.

Answer 7

Dont they always over react???! If they spent less time 'over-reacting', trying to changing Britain into muslim state by demanding this & that and instead concerntrating on living the better life what they came here for in the first instance, then the world will be a better place.

PS whatever happened to 'when in Rome?'

Answer 8

I think that they should be removed. Like you, I know a few Muslims who are really nice people. I have had this discussion with them before. What they said basically was that if we went to live in a Muslim community overseas, we would be expected to live the way they do!!!!! Got to say I was a little suprised, but not worth falling out over. I am far from racist, and believe social integration is a good thing - but this is a step too far. They do look a little un-nerving I have to say, but when all said and done, they are in the UK now - live like we do..........

Answer 9

Yes, some of them are overreacting. There is an element to their community which will eagerly seize on any perceived slight and work themselves up into contrived outrage over it. He said covering one's face creates a barrier and of course he's right. Westerners in Muslim countries have to dress a certain way; instead of constantly 'celebrating differences' (of which I'm tired) we should say this country has certain values, too. Pretending that women's faces are so tempting to men/offensive/whatever they're supposed to be that they can't be seen is against these values, and covering your hair will have to be enough.

Answer 10

They are over-reacting. Personally, I would have the veils banned. Hoodies are nto allowed to wear hoods incase it covers their faces from CCTV cameras, so why should Muslims get away with it? I to know some Muslims, and they do not wear one.