What do you think of Jack Straw's comments about Muslim women in Britain wearing headscarfs?

Question

Do you think he's within his right to tell them to take off the veil when he's talking to them, or is he just an arrogant white politician who has no respect for their culture?

Answer 1

Well, personally, I can't see how putting a sack over the head makes you more religious. But then, I suppose it's just the same as throwing spilt salt over the shoulder or not walking under ladders. Superstitions are hard to drop from a culture.
However, Jack Straw is correct insofar as a large amount of the conversation is lost if the facial movements and expressions can't be seen.
Common courtesy too. It's customary to remove hats and scarves indoors in this country (and culture). They are visitors here and should act as Brits, if they wish to be Brits that is.

Finally, the matter of identification. Banks wouldn't allow you in with a crash helmet or balaclava or hood. Face masks should be included in that as well - after all, highwaymen wear facemasks, don't they, and, who says it's a woman under that anyway? It might be an armed terrorist or bank robber.

So, if they want to retain the mask, they should not be permitted to drive (visual restrictions), enter banks or post offices or building societies. They should be regularly checked by the police to establish the sex of the wearer and whether or not there's a machine gun under the covers.

Finally, as I've commented elsewhere, in a possible riot situation, the police might well regard a masked person as a prime target. Shoot first and ask questions afterwards.

Answer 2

Firstly, he didn't ask them to remove their headscarfs, he asked them to remove their veils. Secondly, I'd like to point out the veil is a cultural item of clothing, not a religious one. Veils are not specified in the Islamic religion and most branches of Islam don't wear them.

Anyway, talking to someone while having your face covered is very impolite here, as you cannot see their face and thus communication is more difficult and you cannot tell their emotions. I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to someone in a veil in the same way I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to someone wearing a Balaclava, especially if I didn't know him well.

Straw's other point was that the veils serve as a visible barrier between cultures. How can we hope to have racial tolerance and a society where all races live together peacefully when some Muslim women shut themselves off from the rest of the world thus? If anything the veil is a cause of racism.
I heard an argument that, really, the veil is a symbol of the extremely orthodox part of Islam; the part that subjugates women. These women don't all choose to wear a Burka or veil, but intense pressure is put on them by the orthodox families and societies they live in. These orthodox societies also teach that women shouldn't have a life of their own, and other things that are completely and inherently sexist. Our country has laws against sexism and promoting sexual equality but some parts of Islam contravene all these spectacularly; or at least if they aren't quite breaking any laws they are breaking a code of our society: that women should have equal rights.
Turkey, a Muslim country, realised there was no real way they could stop that but ban the veil, and that they did, as it was the only way they could stop the sexism and subjugation of women and create sexual equality.

For my part I agree with Jack Straw.

Answer 3

Well first of all being a muslim myself...we need to understand why muslim women cover their faces...they don't cover their faces for the fun of it or etc,etc. Their is a reason to it...and its chosen because...so that we don't attract the opposite sex. You might be thinking 'What the hell!!' etc etc. But the truth is don't you think covering yourselfs is better than being half naked and walking down the streets and being called nasty names ??? We don't go round saying that to women 'Oh! go n wear some clothes' etc etc. So i think Jack Straw should really research before saying anything.
Also i think that there is no Free Speech, no Freedom and theres no such thing as a Free country, if we can't get to do what we want.
Please don't take it the wrong way....
Trying reasearching about the religon Islam first...

Answer 4

With respect, Bobbie, Jack doesn't tell women to take off their scarves to allow him to see their faces at his surgery - he asks if they wouldn't mind doing so. He thinks it helps him to gauge their reaction to answers he gives or suggestions he may make. That would be sensible considering that people who go to an MP's surgery sometimes have a harrowing story to tell with a request for the wrong to be put right by the MP. It is well known that 60% of our communications are through body language and I suppose most of that comes from the face. I think he has made a perfectly reasonable request which may be refused with no consequences to the standard of help or advice he will offer, bearing in mind that he will only be communicating with 40% of the person before him.

Answer 5

Each person and religion have its own ways, and was he right or wrong, that is a question that will stay in debate for long, but they say if you in Rome you do what the Roman do, and he have requested not instructed, we must understand covering ones face is sensitive specially with the high security risk. i know of schools in Asia countries that is Muslin dominated and there is rules that kids cannot cover there faces or even in some buildings, every person should respect other cultures, if we go to the countries that require the head coverings we do, and so should others if they come to countries that do not allow it. The person have a right to refuse removal, and the other person have the right to refuse entry if you cannot comply.

Answer 6

Quoted from Far-Potasium: "No, any woman wearing a head scarf or man wearing a beard sans moustache is advocating Islamic violence, both in the Middle East, as well as in Western communities, because they and their leaders have not stood up to denounce violence and advocate reason and unification.

The Muslim is an affront to a peaceful, harmonious civilization based on reason and fair trade, and instead stands for the violent uprising and overthrow of all democracies and the raising of a vicious, totalitarian, and partly theocratic, government based on the Koran.

Until they individually, and as a movement, publicly, and continually by their acts, advocate moderation, they remain enemies of all free people and their appearance is a hostile act of defiance and challenge. "

Far-Postasium, have you every heard of Big Brother? You know, the big mean scary guy who watches you all the time? The one who spews out pointless rhetoric about the bad people who come to murder you in your beds if you don't follow every word and action that he tells you?

No? You haven't? 'Cuz you sure think a lot like Big Brother wants us to.

Answer 7

There is a difference between a hijab (headscarf ) and a niqab/burka which completely covers everything except the eyes. I don't think he is right to ask Muslim women to remove their hijab because that is an Islamic requirement for modest and pious women. The niqab however, covers the face, which is not a requirement of Islam. If anyone needs to see a woman's face for identification it would be fair for her to oblige. But for any other purpose, no she shouldn't have to remove what makes her feel like a respectful, pious woman with honour.

It is very unfortunate that people have associated a piece of garment with terrorism and violence. I blame "Muslim" terrorists but I also blame the media and politicians who have purposely misled the public to believe that Islam preaches violence. In my opinion they have commited a big crime towards their public by misinforming them.

Answer 8

He has been asking this of them for years, not just last week...

With respect to privacy laws; When dealing with constituents problems you need to prove the identity of the individual involved as the MP will be acting on behalf of the individual and the country. Any Thom Dick or Harry could be hiding behind the mask - therefore, not only is he within his right, he is technically acting under UK law...

If they do not like the laws; they can choose to leave...

Answer 9

I think he had a point. Many of the cues we get when talking to people have to do with their facial expressions. He only asked that the veil be removed to allow him to communicate with the person more appropriately.

An arrogant politician he may be, but I would support him on this point.

Answer 10

Respect for culture has to come from both sides

They cant continue with the stone age rituals, in an advanced 21st century country

Religion is to be observed in home, not on the roads