Is Jack Straw right to make Muslim women remove their ninja headgear when they meet him?

Question

Surely this would make him a better candidate for Tony Blair's replacement. Political correctness is going overboard. This is the United Kingdom not Saudi Arabia, Israel, morocco or any other muslim state.

In reference to Icepapi's answer I worked in KSA for 2 years and was forced to live by their rules. So FU

RichardE... you're quite correct - Sorry Israel

Answer 1

I tell you what ...why don't we all start wearing balaclavas and hoodies. I am sick to the back teeth with other religions trying to impose their beliefs and traditions on us. Personally I find it offencive that they wear them. It slaps the face of integration and respect for fellow communities members.

Answer 2

I agree with creepingrot, he is perfectly within his rights to ask them to remove their veil, as they are within their rights to refuse should they wish.
If it makes a person feel uncomfortable then it seems incredibly unfair just to say no way without consideration to the other party. It is only the part covering the face that he is concerned about, its not like he is asking them to remove the whole head dress.
I think we pander too much to the muslim community and Jack Straw has shown more courage than most in asking this of them.
We are constantly being told to "Keep Our Noses Out Of Muslim Business". I am sorry, but when this affects how others feel and in some cases breaks our laws, then it IS our business, UK citizens wouldnt be tolerated breaking their laws and upsetting their officials if the shoe was on the other foot would they?

If they want to live here, then they must make the effort to do so under our way of life, otherwise pretty soon there is going to be quite serious civil unrest and there won't be a damn thing anyone can do about it.

Answer 3

I think he is very brave, and correct, to tackle the issue but I don't think he is MAKING them remove thier burkahs, just asking them to.
I support the approach. By wearing traditional dress they are giving a very stong message that they do not want to integrate into British society whilst they are asking their MP, British establisment, for help. It's a mixed message.
Sadly, although Jack Straw is a good MP, I wouldn't support him as he was in favour of the invasion of Iraq.
BTW, I think you need to research a little better before labelling Israel as a muslim state - it's THE Jewish state and they don't get on with their Muslim neighbours at all well (ask the Lebanese, Palestinians etc)!!!

Answer 4

Good answer Brian L. What I could do is walk into a bank and wearing head to toe black kit, with a veil and everything and see how far I get without being accused of wanting to rob the place.
I and I am not in the minority feel that it is intimidating to certain people and causes a huge amount of segregation. But then the Muslim community neither is interested or wishes to intergrate into British Society. Until they do this they will be tension. Jewish, Sikhs etc, have intergrated into British Society and therefore have been accepted and are not targeted by groups such as the BNP etc...
Its completely different to say Jewish people wearing a small cap. Your talking about not being able to see a whole person, bar their eyes. Who knows what they are doing behind their veils.
I personally cannot talk to a person without seeing their face. I feel it is rude when someone doesn't remove their sunglasses when talking to me.
I feel its outdated and is often demanded by men.

Answer 5

Yes absolutely. There are 2 problems with the burka that i see and I'm a man. 1. They demean women in general, the reason they were invented is a selfish outdaded obsession with Muslim men having power and control over their 'wives.'
2, I know i speak for most level headed Britons (pardon the pun) when i say that because these women look so strange to the majority of us they only lead to us having more polarised and negative opinions about Muslims which is not a good thing

Answer 6

The base of freedom is to do whatever u believe as long as u dont harm any one with no raceiest to color religion or social beliefs u do that then u are a free country u dont then u're not diffrenent than any other country rules the people with the power of guns and arms, and by the way they are not harming any one by the way they dress i just wonder how the world encarage nudity and despite wit..............

Answer 7

Completely correct in asking them to remove the face veil. In fact i think there should be a law against them wearing that type of clothing. And as usuall we have the half wit's answering this question. So making a woman cover herself up and walk behind the male is correct and not demeaning to her. Some of these Arab Countries live a couple of hundred years behind the rest of the world. Again it comes down to abide by the rules of the Country you are in. I have also lived in a very strict Muslim Country and i had to abide by their rules, and laws.

Answer 8

The first time I saw a full length burka was in St Johns Wood London a few years back, I stopped in my tracks and was astounded that someone could be made to wear soemthing so offensive and demeaning. I just stood there amazed until the guy came over and started giving me the verbal for eyeing up his missus.... "Yeah right"

Although if I'm going to a mosque to visit I will remove my shoes gladly, if I go to a synangogue I will wear a cap.... as someone said, adapt - when in Rome....

Answer 9

I think he has the right to ask and they have the right to refuse.

I think he also has the right to say if you wear it I do not want to talk to you.

Things must be kept in proportion and liberty must not be chucked out of the window over minor problems (Yes in the light of ALL the nationalities living together in this country it is minor.
It is not essentialy the only way to communicate with your MP if they feel that strongly they can write email or have a representative speak on their behalf as they can with any other member of this community.)

Answer 10

If the hijaab makes him feel uncomfortable, then he of course has a right to request that anyone meeting him remove it, and he has a right to refuse to meet anyone who does not. So long as he doesn't force anyone to remove it, and always leaves them the option of choosing to go away veiled without meeting him.

This particular exercise of his individual rights MAY, however, conflict with his political goals and progress...

Answer 11

That the veil interferes with communication is rubbish, veiled racism on the part of just one more fu cked up and warped minded Minister, leader of the house indeed, mad bleeding house in his case.

Might I suggest that Straw adopt the wearing of the veil, and while it while shut the fucker up, choke him with any luck, it is certain to cover up his stupid and ugly face.