Veil or no Veil. Jack Straw has said he would perfer muslim women to not wear a veil I don't agree, do you?

Question

This country is a free country. We shouldn't tell people what they can wear, the muslim community don't protest about us Christian's wearing crosses, why should we protest about a muslim woman wearing the veil.

Answer 1

If a muslim woman chooses to wear a veil, she should be allowed to do so. If she is forced to do so by her husband, father or brother, then that is wrong. Also, I feel that it pressures other women to do so who would not normally wish to do so.
To many of us, the veil is a symbol of oppression. There is no way it can be comfortable to wear and no one should feel better because they are covered in head to toe black cloth, rather than show their face. Somehow, it doesn't make sense.
So yes, I'd like to see it banned. Or if not banned, their husbands should be made to wear one too.

Answer 2

People should wear what they prefer to wear, and if those women want to wear the veil, then they have the right to do so. In Jack straw defense, he was practicing his own freedom of speech when he stated he Prefer that they didn't wear it, as those women practice their freedom of choice to wear it or not to wear it. Freedom of speech and freedom of practice go hand in hand. Both are protected under one Amendment in the bill of rights, and you can't have one if you refuse another for another person.

By the way, All non Muslims women are forced to wear the veil in some Muslim communities, and countries such as Saudi don't even permit people to bring in the cross to the country let alone let them wear it. On the boarder anything non Muslim religious related is tossed into a trash can, whether it is a Bible, a cross, or anything else, not just Christians, all non Muslims.

Did you know that even if you had the stamp of Israel on your passport you won't be permitted to enter some Muslims countries, such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia?! that is discrimination. Don't you agree!

In some Muslims Countries, the Christians are being treated as the Blacks were treated in the 60s. Separate But Equal!!! The Christians are being squazed out of their own country by the Muslims, more and more Christians are immigrating because of the unfair treatment they receive by the Muslims. Egypt, was 80% Christians, these days they are less than 10%. Jordan used to be around 20%, now less than 1.5%, Saudi Arabia 100% Muslims, they don't give non Muslims any citizen rights. Separate doesn't mean equal. Have you ever wonder why would one leave their home if they are being treated Fairly!? the Christians are leaving the Muslim countries with large numbers. Ponder upon that, please. Ask questions, and ye shall know the truth. Hopefully.

Answer 3

Im going to do my best and try not to offend anyone here.

1. As already stated it is a security breach and discrimination against others if people are allowed to wear full islamic dress in these situations. Anyone can walk in and committ an attrocity. Man, woman, muslim, non-muslim. If the face isn't seen they could be anyone! Surely Jack Straw also has the right to personal safety in this situation?

2. I understand there are three schools of thought on the hijab in Islam but I need to point out that if Muslims themselves are divided on this subject, then surely they cannot complain if a non muslim makes a mistake. Jack Straw like so many non-muslims are used to seeing muslim women with just a scarf around the head and he is probably under the conception that the face veil is not compulsory, therefore the suggestion is made. He is simply suggesting that the woman removes her face veil not her scarf!!

3. This country is desperately trying to show respect for individualism and currently we are so full of political correctness that we are afraid of offending muslims in fear of a backlash. This respect however, needs to be both ways.

Answer 4

Great question to get deeper sentiments about Islam and Christianity out of the woods ...

The veil issue has many aspects:

1) Yes, it is great to allow religious freedom and if the veil is - claimes - as part of a "religious outfit", then we have to allow it

2) Besides being democratic and open and allowing the veil there are security issues in some locations and situations where the veil cannot be allowed in the interest of public safety, e.g. airports, ID pictures etc.

3) Personally I don't want somebody wearing a mask in my own home

4) On a reciprocal level we are a free country and have a democratic government with a pretty good lifestyle and lots of individual liberties. Its part of who we are that we allow the veil

In most/some arabian countries there is NO democracy, no liberty, no/little individual freedom, definitely there is no tolerance towards christians and we cannot wear a cross or other christian symbols as part of our clothes and publicly confessing to be christian or trying to speak to locals about God etc can get you into prison, deported, in a worst case scenario , attacked and killed.

SO there is NO respect for christians in those countries, whereas we give respect and sensitivity to people wanting to wear the veil.

Thats why we are able to write to yahoo answers and have a free press and can complain all day long and ***** about the government and Straw and anybody we want.

Try doing that in arabian countries .. muslim countries ... I hear their prisons are not nice ...

Finally why do women wear this veil ? Its not mandatory in the QU'ran, and it sure is not becuase they are all ugly..

it's becuase muslims - especially men - have a deep rooted inferiority complex and have no faith and trust in themselves, they can't stand any criticism, they can't allow the risk of their wife(s) being seen in public fo r fear of somebody taking her away ..

it is ridiculous and sad --

the pope was right bringin up this subject, Islam rules and conquers with the sword, not love and compassion and grace and forgiveness like The Lord God and his son Jesus Christ

God Bless you

Answer 5

I saw a documentarty on PBS about the women of Iran. Though I believe they should have the option to wear whatever they want, some of the women looked pretty hot with it. In their own subtle form of rebelling, the women over there do not wear the typical solid black veil. They use multiple bright colors and some of the veils are sheer. I no doubt prefer the way the women of the free world dress, but the veil adds a level of mystery and I would hate to see it comletely disappear completely from muslim culture.

Answer 6

I wouldn't like ot live in a country where people are forced to wear certain clothing or are disallowed from wearing certain clothing so long as it is harmless.

No one should stop Christians from wearing crosses, Sikhs from wearing turbans or Muslims from wearing veils.

On the other hand, Jacks comments do hold some value, that it is hard to integrate between communities if wearing a veil.

I;ve reason previous answers and people have used incomparable references. Wearing a motorcycle helmet or hoodie is completely different to someone wearing an article of clothing for religious/health/disability reasons, just like we allow guide dogs in shops but not others.

I would like to see less segregation in our communities, if not wearing the veil achieves that then fine, but this should be a decision worked on culturally with dialog between communities, not an MP saying to the country what they can and can't wear (after generations of tradition).

Answer 7

4 once in his career, I agree with Straw.
Believe me it's a first.
It's the principle,
since when has a Burka been a statement of being British?
we can not condemn teenage thugs 4 wearing hoodies, but allow grown women 2 cover their faces on the grounds of religious belief.
Nowhere in the Koran does it state a woman must cover anything but their hair/head & dress modestly.
We do need some consistency.
We were informed that 1 of the reasons 4 invading Afghanistan was the releasing women from head-2-toe Burkas, which were the choice of the Taliban.
Now the dust settles these women R still wearing them there & here!
I may have Very strong views by some standards, but I do not C why these women R allowing themselves 2 B dictated 2, as it's becoming fairly obvious it's not religious but Cultural.
R they seriously saying Men cannot control themselves?
If they have nothing 2 hide they should show their faces.
Common sense really, isn't it?

Answer 8

Excuse me but you are very wrong!!! In Muslim Arabic countries you are not allowed to wear the cross. Religious books are taken away from you at the airports so what is good for the goose is surely good for the gander!!!! You also have to wear Arabic clothing...I believe in Saudi Arabia... The veil is not compulsory in Islam and it is a matter of choice. Lots of people wear things to be "different". I wear Indian clothes when I am in India because men kept trying to pick me up when I wore European clothing. I have lived in India for many years and wore Indian clothing all the time but I wear European clothing in Europe and in america. I am NOT muslim and I am not Indian. There are many young women whose mothers and grandmothers did NOT wear the veil but they want to make a statement to show they are moslem. I am afraid it might possibly be a fashion statement amongst the young because it you go to the villages in Pakistan where they are more orthodox and, as you can see on tv with Jemina Khan in Kashmir the women there are not wearing veils. Yes they cover their heads but not their faces. Many of these young veiled women have"attitude" problems and chip on their shoulder. It is not necessary to show what your religion is. Love and belief in God lay in the heart and not what you wear.Most Christians do not make their crosses or crucifixes obvious or their scalpulars...often they lay hidden under clothing and near their hearts.

Answer 9

It is a question of security and integration. Freedom of speach is of course important (as is the ability to act freely), however that works both ways. People need to feel free to be safe. I would not accept somebody coming to see me at my work if I could not see their face. I could not see their face and would not know whether they were a man or a woman, or whether their face was threatening or not.

Also people who work in vulnerable position should not be subjected to an unseen assailant/ customer. We cannot wear balaclavas anywhere in public/ especially where people handle money etc. so why should there be an exception. To allow veils is in my opinion discrimination.

My religion is Moshtango, where our holy god told us we must wear balaclavas at all times, especially in banks or when paying with cash... Is this acceptable????

For integration reasons as well we should get rid of them (I am not even going to bother explaining this as it's obvious). However I believe that most muslim women would be keen to get rid of them and that they are purely imposed (whether through force or brainwashing).

Answer 10

I disagree. This is the United Kingdom and out of respect for the British people, those not born here should politely respect our views and wearing veils is not one. If Jack Straw prefers to see a person's face and reaction when discussing something with them then surely that is his perogative. He is not insisting on the removal of veils, just asking if they would object.