Should Muslim women be allowed to keep their faces covered ?

Question

Jack Straw says "The reason that you see people is so you can see them and communicate through what you see on their face as well as what you hear through your ears."

Answer 1

yes in the privacy of their homes or other places dedicated to them but not in public places where it may be necessary for them to be identified, i.e. where security cameras are being operated

Answer 2

Jack Straw's comments, published in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, sparked much controversy. Muslim women are required to cover themselves when they pray and most Muslim women cover their hair when they go in public. The decision to cover the face partially with a veil (niqab) or fully with a burka is a personal one and not a religious requirement.

What Jack Straw said was,

"I think, however, that the conversation would be of greater value if the lady took the covering from her face.

"Indeed, the value of a meeting, as opposed to a letter or phone call, is so that you can - almost literally - see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say."

He said that Muslim women who wear full veils make community relations "more difficult" and they should uncover their faces

He said he now makes sure he has a female member of staff with him at surgeries. "I can't recall a single occasion when the lady concerned had refused to lift her veil; and most I ask seem relieved to have done so."

I disagree with his basic premise that the reason why a meeting has more value than a letter or phone call is "seeing" a person's facial expression. The value of a meeting is that there is instant feedback which is delayed in written communication. It is similar to a phone call but a meeting allows for fewer distractions. Even in the corporate world sometimes meetings are conducted via conference calls.

There is some research regarding a person's facial expression and lying, such as the number of times a person blinks so maybe Jack Straw is looking for signs of sincerity? Since he is a public servant, it should be he, who is open and available to the public and not the public he serves.

Furthermore, a Muslim woman who removed her veil still would not make eye contact, according to Quranic injunctions. So the concept that communication would be facilitated is questionable.

If there really is a communication problem, perhaps having an interpreter available would be a better option.

I believe that a woman should have to remove the face veil for identification purposes such as a driving license, but that requiring a woman to remove the veil for a conversation is unnecessary. The official, by virtue of being a government official, when making a request would have more intimidation in requesting a woman to remove her veil than a teacher or other person with whom a Muslim woman might have a conversation. I believe that is why the Muslim women removed their veils because most have come from countries where the government is a brutal oppressive regieme and non-complaince with a request from a government official could mean serious consequences. I think that the same women would not remove the veil if the request were from a non-goverment official.

If the reason for removing the veil were one of identity, security or for a health examination, I would approve of the request. However, his reason was for sincerity and to make him feel more comfortable. What a person communicates through body language is subject to the interpretation of the listener and can possibly be misunderstood. A person's words should be all that is considered in this regard. He is the public servant and his job should be to make his constituents comfortable, not himself. I think that when a Muslim woman must remove her veil in front of a man that she would feel inhibited. It would affect her ability to communicate in a negative way.

So long as wearing a veil is legal, it should not have to be removed so long as the person is engaged in a legal activity. I wonder what happens if a woman were to refuse Mr. Straw's request to remove her veil? What if Mr. Straw found it distracting to speak with a person having many tattoos? What if a Muslim woman requested that Mr. Straw cover his face when speaking with her?

It is interesting to me that in an informal poll by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, In response to the question: Jack Straw has urged Muslim women to remove their veils. Do you agree? 75.6% voted YES

Answer 3

I think jus by wearing the face covers it causes mis-trust, Doin it in a Muslim country like Pakistan or wherever is fair enough but not in England, they dont even have to cover there faces apparantly, I think they are hiding something. A bit like a armed robber, IRA thug or some1 like that would hide their face with a balaclava. I read on yahoo a head scarfe is good enough, so what r they hiding apart from a beard?. Like the the other bloke said words dont mean squat u have to gauge the expression on their face to get an understanding of what a person is really thinking.

Why would a God or Allah be bothered about what someone wears? Just a load of bull shat, The muslim men must buzz off making up rules to control women. Like oppresive clothes, rape and such things.

What a stupid way of life to follow!

Oh yeah if any 1 argues ill set my suicide bomber on u. LOL!!!!

So the answer is do what they want in their country but in ours they should show some respect. NO TO SILLY DRESSES.

Answer 4

If I lived in a Muslim country and my wife had to cover her face fine. This is not a Muslim country and all who live here should live by our laws and traditions. The PC lobby has driven the British to the corners of the table and allowed the Muslims the centre ground. I do not believe all Muslims want a different society to live in but the ones that do are winning. Its time the voices of the majority were heard not the minority every time. He is right haw can you communicate from behind a veil. The words are fine the face tells the truth.

Answer 5

Allowed - yes

Forced to - No

Remove out of courtesy - why not?

I can't believe people have got the cheek to turn this request by Jack Straw into a racist/discrimination issue.

The discrimination is there all right... from the people who demand that these women wear them in the first place!

Answer 6

Jack Straw is totally right and his explanation makes sense.

In a Muslim country such as Iran, would you go meeting an Imam, or a man for a formal meeting, shoulders not covered?

Answer 7

The covering of Muslim women's faces is not religious as is being claimed, it is a male invention to hide the face of their women so that they are not coveted by other men. It is with modesty that Muslim women cover their heads/faces and body as said by the prophet Mohammad when addressing his three daughters "cover your heads and lower your eyes in modesty daughters and be good Muslims. This I read and have no objection to women wearing a veil or a hi-jab, they are free to do as they please. However men can also dress in women's clothes and if behind a veil??? who knows what their intent is.

Answer 8

I believe Jack Straw is right its our country.If we go to a Muslim country we have to go by there laws.We have no laws reguarding head wear I reckon its time some laws were brought in.The ones who cover there faces are usually extremely religous which is beginning to get pretty scary.

Answer 9

You shouldn't be ablet to force ANYBODY to show thier face, muslim or not.
If someone told you to take off a part of your clothes, you'd feel offended (Maybe). Jack Straw IS right though. By covering the face they cut out a lot of facial expressions that other people could otherwise see. Still, freedom is freedom.

Answer 10

I think if ppl understood some of their reasoning especially the ladiesm they would b envied if not copied.

i'm sure most girls've had issues with guys perving on them or just walking down the street & had ppl oogling your t!ts, or whistling or whatever...

i'm sure especially girls have spoken 2 sum1 & not been sure whether the guy is talking cos he's interested in what you're saying or just 'cos you have ti!s or an @ss or a pretty face.

sometimes a lady might even b justified in wondering if a guy is even listening to what she's saying

a hijab negates all that, plus it gives them a comfort zone where they can present exactly the amount of privacy/self they want to exactly who they want to present it too

as a guy i'd love it if a woman chose to reserve her looks just for me, & have just me enjoy that much of her priv8 space... & i think many western women as well might enjoy the freedom you get from wearing the hijab

Answer 11

A muslim woman should be able to wear whatever she wants, I mean, are there regulations on how high your skirt can be or how low your shirt?? And even as a girl, I can say that that hinders the conversation more.. what about gothics?? Neo nazis?? That bothers me a lot more!! Besides, culture concentrates on different things.. I mean for them showing those beautiful eyes is so mysterious, so intense, and sexy in a way... in Japan, the wrists and the neck are sexy.. in this world full of globalisation, shouldn't there be more tolerance for other cultures??