How do you feel about the issue of niqaab and what Jack Straw had said?

Question

I am muslim myself and believe that everyone should be entitled to their own freedom of expression whether it be wearing the hijab, niqab, cross, or turban. I think there is a great misunderstanding and people easily result to extreme views instead of stopping and thinking in the middle

Answer 1

Totally agree with you. The niqaab does not bother me in the slightest - you can still hear what the person is saying.

It would be like asking a Catholic to stop using rosary beads, or forcing Quakers to go to a proper church building.

I am very much a beliver in religous toleration and I am sometimes very disturbed by some of the comments made on this wesite about muslims. (ie. very negitive and racist).

I have met many muslims, and lots of other people of differing faiths, but essenitally were are all human beings, who have different customs and cultures and we should all respect that.

For example when I am out with musilm freinds I do not drink alcohol - even though they are very polite and insist that I do not stand on ceremony for them, I do it out of respect for them and their faith.

Religion is a very private and personal affair, which no one has the right to interfere with or judge.

Answer 2

Of course, people should be allowed to wear whatever they want, no matter how ridiculous they look, after all, there are plenty of clothing "fads" in the world today.

HOWEVER, if your face is unidentifiable to other people and/or CCTV, then masks should be removed.

So, women can wear masks but, like motorcyclists they should be removed before being allowed into banks, post offices, shops with tills, garages, underground railways, aeroplanes, government offices, etc.
In addition, masked women must expect to be primary targets when and/or if police open fire in a riot situation. They must also accept frequent identity checks as there's no guarantee that there isn't a bomb or machine gun or even (shock, horror) a man underneath the mask.

culturally, they have to accept that the only people who wore masks in Britain were highwaymen and thieves - specifically to avoid recognition or identification. That's probably still true today so by all means wear masks but don't complain if you are continually harassed by the police and avoided by the public.

An example of this in action - some years ago, I was taken out for a curry by some friends. We walked along the "curry mile" in Manchester. Outside many of the restaurants, there are people touting for trade (probably too much competition there since every other shop is a restaurant). One restaurant had a man, and a woman in a burka. Most of the English (ie. white) people crossed the road and walked on the opposite side rather than risk approaching her. Irrational, maybe, but at least it's safe was the obvious implication.

Answer 3

www.salafimanhaj.com/pdf/
salafimanhaj_thelaststraw.pdf

Please check out the above link/website.

Does the 'Straw man' feels intimidated and thinks it causes a division/separation in the community, when a women comes walking half naked, wearing mini skirt, a top that reveals her knockers in his surgery???!!! let alone on the streets. I don't think so. It would be said 'Democracy'

I agree, if its for identification in Airports etc. then a female staff should be allowed see the face of the passenger for verification in line with her passport.
This is all a properganda, since Straw is a political figure and can manipulate the media, then his statements will be headline story.

But no for sure, there will be other issues that will arise every know and then to put the Muslims down and question their way of life. God is All-Seeing, Hearing and knowing. He knows what we conceal and reveal.

When the British/English colonised, or should I say conqured other parts of the world, did they not take with them the English language? did they not take with then Cricket and football?
Even now, when one goes to Turkey, Cypros etc for holiday do you wear what they wear, do you bother to learn the language of the country that ou go to.

Answer 4

People have objected for years to what certain minority groups wear-or don't wear for that matter!. Once upon a time, women were not allowed to show there ankles at the beach, now we have nudists beaches and if you don't like them, simply stay away. But that's slightly missing the point about people who wish to cover up (see my pic!). Punks were ridiculed because it went against the norm - what a norm is I cant classify, though moderate people viewed them as anti-social and all kinds of ills.
Today, yet again, we have different views about norms. Britain is awash with cultural diversity, that some norms cant handle the change. Again, these views go against the English value system. We have a different threat now, one which, if it goes unchecked will be the downfall of our society. If we all walked round covering or hiding our identities, faces Etc, then we will breed a society built on suspicion. If that suspicion grows then I'm afraid it will manifest into a fractured, divided, ungovernable mob, filled with hatred and ignorance.The middle ground for me is to see real faces, real people and smiles as we go about our daily lives. God help us all if most of us have to hide behind something.

Answer 5

it is blatant racism! Jack Straw is bullying Muslims...I dont understand in case you have observed yet there are diverse religions interior the international & everybody looks to purely insult & harrass Muslims. All Muslims at the instant can't extreme violence - the violent muslims are a rareity & in case you knew any muslims you would understand that,. The "Riots" of 2001 have been very much exaggerated & have been specially the reason for ignorant white english human beings being racist & insulting and assulting human beings from ethnic minorities (It wasnt in simple terms muslims who faught lower back). Muslims additionally do not throw a wobbly over "extremely trivial subject concerns" - think of if the these days resurrected photographs were of jesus as a replace of mohammed - the christian community could have long gone psychological! maybe as you declare to stay in an area the place there are diverse muslims it is advisable to be taught something by using extremely speaking to them, till its under you due on your blatantly racist ideals.

Answer 6

Jack Straw deserves praise for saying what the non-muslim MAJORITY think.
It is time that we stopped letting this minority group have evrerything their own way.
If Muslims want to be so different, then they should live in a country where Muslims are the majority.
We used to say "When in Rome do as the Romans do"!

Answer 7

I think the real issue is why people see the veil as a sign of oppression. I fully understand why some women CHOOSE to wear certain clothes for religious reasons but too many people still think of it is a sign of an oppression, like she's been made to wear it. You are right, it comes down to people misunderstanding why the veil is worn.

Answer 8

I feel that people who wear this type of clothing are making a statement that they do not wish to be part of the British society and that they want to carry on their own culture and don't want to mix with ours. I also believe that every one has the right to worship who they wish without prejudice. however if I was in a Muslim country I would not dress to offend. Maybe we are afraid of loosing our identity with all the different nationality's that have chosen to live in the UK.

Answer 9

Do I think you have the right to wear a turban? Sure. Do I think you should be able to wear a ski mask in an airport, or anything the does not allow for identification?No.

Answer 10

thats a tough one cos im a christian and if there was a law against christiananity doing something, i would oppose it but at the same time, god, there is only one god may i state that is our lord jesus, wants us to show our beauty we dont need to be covered he created us in his sight. muslims follow false doctrine and have yet to find the truth all we can do is pray for the situation cos as christians we dont want to be affected as we dont know where it will lead to .