What do you make of Jack Straw's request that women remove their veils when they visit with him?

Question

It was further stated that : 'Mr Straw insisted that he respected those who wear the veil and would never demand it was removed, but added that in conversation it was important to "not only hear what people say but see what they mean".
But "people should think about" not wearing it, he told the Today programme.'

Answer 1

It seems like a reasonable request to me. Apparently only 2% of the muslim females wear the full veil. How many out of those actually go and see Jack Straw? It's not like how it is in France, he only requested it when they go and see him.

Answer 2

I fully support Mr Jack Straw MP in his decision.
What about the right of Mr Jack Straw MP?
It is normal to feel uneasy when talking to somebody who is totally covered.
In normal 'face to face' conversation a human reads the expression as well as hear the words.
Why is Jack Straw being denied the right to a full facial expression of the person.
How is he to form a fair judgement on the validity of the case presented when only the eyes are visible?
I have also checked up on an Islamic website http://www.submission.org/dress.html
and it categorically states that:-
Quran is very clear about the dress code for the believers. Innovations and fabrication intorduced Hijab (veil) to Islam (submission.) Hijab (veil) is a traditional, not religious head cover that dates back to ancient civilizations, and is not supported or advocated by the Quran.

Sky News has been very unfair having seen 3 interviews today all attacking Jack Straw.

Answer 3

I Fully support Jack Straw with his perfectly reasonable request , but as usual all we are now hearing from the whinging Muslims is about Their "Rights" , but if the British population went into any of their countries and started Building Churches and other buildings for Religious purposes there would be hell to Pay , so why is it expected , no demanded , that our Society and Culture should be altered to suit the Muslim way of life? It is time our Politicians had the Guts and Courage to restore Great Britain to the Indigenous Population, I notice that our Prime Minister , Tony Blair , has "Distanced" himself from Jack Straws Request , what a Pathetic Tosser Blair is.

Answer 4

We are always being told that muslims do not not feel part of the community, but every time something is said or done to affect their sensibilities they seem to start to to rant and rave . The Jack Straw thing is the latest in a long line of events , that have upset them, we have had the Pope's speech and the cartoons published last year. Some muslims like to preach for a jihad or a British muslim state, that is there right because we have free speech in Britain but it goes both ways.

Answer 5

Removing of veils doesnt mean in any way disrepecting any religion,like some say.. its the covering of the face.Siehks are allowed with respect to their faiths to were their head gear in the army and police force,and theyre not covering their faces.
Its all out or proportion and its something ppl LIKE to be angry about.
On saying that when Jack Straw says anything anyway.its annoying

Answer 6

Facial expression is responsible for 95% of the message.

So if people are happy to accept that Mr. Straw would miss 95% of thier conversation then thats OK.

( ie. he would miss the point they were trying to make 95% of the time )

Personally, I would take off the veil to make sure my MP understood me. Its not very often you get direct access to senior goverment officials, and its access we should appreciate and show a little respect for.

icon5050. You have jumped on the bandwagon, not Jack Straw. Since when did him asking for these ladies to help with communication mean that he was labelling them as evil ? He was just asking for a little help in communication. It seems to mbe that everytine someone asks something of our Muslin community they get labelled as Muslim haters.

Answer 7

I agree! Fair play to the Strawman!

I think that if you come to this country then you should expect to make some concessions. Seeing women in veils freaks me out - there could be anyone under there! And when they wear them for passport photos (which they DO do, well surely that's a security risk?

I saw a whole group of women in veils walking down the street once. It was weird. I couldn't decide if it was funny (in a comedy sketch kinda way) or just creepy (as if the Klan's polar opposites were out in force).

Answer 8

It'sa perfectly good request, there's nothing wrong with that, If i had a constituancy, I wouldn't want a face to veil conversation with someone I didn't know. I'd rather talk to them properly or not at all!

Answer 9

Why oh why oh why do the peolpe with their religious beliefs expect everyone else in the whole world not disrespect them?? Fien if you are in a Muslim country, but they're not. They are in a Christian country. I was in Saudi working and was given grief by some bearded mullah for having a St Georges cross on my Tee shirt. Where was his respect towards my belief? Just 'cos the Knights Templar killed all his ancestors and took all his women away....Bunch of wussies. BTW I'm not a football hooligan, it was just a red cross on a TEE shirt that happened to be like the English flag.

Answer 10

At last a British politician has the guts to speak out on this issue! In a society where face to face contact is important, then it is vital for people whom one is speaking to to be able to see one's facial expressions. Sheik Ibrahim Nogra, spokesman of the Muslim Council of Britain was reported in today's press as expressing outrage that Muslims in Britain should be expected to assimilate. I find it outrageous that they should come to the United Kingdom, accept eagerly all it has to offer, then refuse to assimilate and feel resentful at the very suggestion. The covering of a woman's face is, so I understand, a man-made requirement. Why, then, is it being so jealously preserved? The logical thing for people who do not want to integrate into British society is, surely, to return to their home country where assimilation is not a problem!