Veils and muslim women - Controversy is raging...?

Question

Should muslim women be allowed to serve the public wearing burqa (head to toe veils) where eye contact is part of their job - such as in schools or government services?

Jack Straw, Phil Woolas, David Davis in the British parliament have condemned the idea of muslims wearing veils.
Tony Blair has encouraged "measured and considered way" to have a dialogue.

Western women wear tank tops showing their bodies partly. Is that OK?
Sikhs wear turban. Is that OK?
Hindu women wear Saris. Acceptable?
Jews wear tumulk. Ditto? I can go on.... about other's religious beliefs and customs.

What is wrong in being modest? They are not coerced. Women who want to wear their dress in one particular way should be allowed as long as it is not offensive to anyone or not forced to do so under duress.

What business it is of anyone - let alone the leader of a civilized nation - to comment on women's dresses? Where does it stop? When does it stop?

Answer 1

When in Rome... do as - why is that so hard for other cultures to learn. Could I go to Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia and wear revealing clothing or makeup and high heels? I doubt it. Would I even try to change their minds? No, I just stay outta their backyard if that's how they feel about it.

Answer 2

Hopefully you can stop ranting long enough to read an answer and think about it. Islam forces covering of the entire female body of ALL FEMALES past the age of puberty. It is part of demeaning, controlling and keeping women as second class citizens. A veil or habit on a Catholic religious women is NEVER EVER a covering of the entire face or body. It is often just a head covering to be an outward sign to all like a wedding ring is to most people. A wedding ring says someone is off limits as they are married to another already. A habit on a religious woman is the same except it means she is married to Christ and is also deserving of the extra respect you would afford a religious person. For example, you would be far more careful around this holy woman with your language, jokes, actions and so forth out of respect. BIG BIG BIG difference you need to point out. The Catholic religious woman CHOOSES the life and the lifestyle and agrees to the habit and all. She is NEVER pushed into it or asked to do it except by God. The islamic woman is forced by men to wear the covering or be beaten-executed. The Catholic woman can quit at any time and go back to civilian, regular lay life if she wishes. There will be no beating or violence of any type. The islamic woman is stuck. I have traveled internationally and observed these customs with my own eyes in addition to my college education. You obviously have little knowledge of what goes on beyond your neighborhood. The burqha and hijab are very demeaning and limiting for women in many countries of the world. Try even driving a car in some countries as a woman.... If you get caught you will be charged and sentenced to a harsh punishment. We are talking about being stripped of your clothes and beaten with a cane or a whip of one form or another. That is reality. Try even reading the news online of places like Saudi Arabia. Sounds great like oil, money and Arabs in nice cars.....Well that is not the only thing going on there. Try visiting as a woman and see the mess you will have to go through.

Answer 3

I have difficulty with the concept of veiling women becuase it makes them almost non-entities. It is simply too hard to identify a woman when you can barely see any of her. Unless a person is extremely good with eye shapes, it makes it very hard to tell people apart.
I don't really care for nuns either, but I don't see many of those at work.

Nothing at all wrong with being modest. However, regarding the burqa, they just don't seem safe. Vision is impaired, movement is impaired and I'd be terrified that a child would walk off with the wrong mother or be kidnapped.

Answer 4

I think the problem arises in the fact they cannot be identified. A bank robber wearing a ski mask for example. A Muslim wearing a gown and head covering to conceal a bomb. It may be OK for you that these radical idiots can come over here and dress as they do but when In America dress as Americans. Would you feel safe getting on a plane with Arab people with their faces covered?

Answer 5

If everything was in balance we wouldn't go either too far left or right. Hardly dressed is just as offensive as something dressed to the hilt. Maybe the dress should fit the job. Like if you want to drive, don't cover your face. If you want to wear skimpy clothes, work at home.

Answer 6

My personal belief is that it is fine, as long as it doesn't cause a hazard in some way. In some jobs people have to remove body piercings, cover tattoos, pull hair back depending on the situation.

As long as the woman is not being FORCED to wear this, I would say in most situations it should be allowed.

Answer 7

What other modes of dress require the masking of the face like a criminal?
Either withdraw from public out of modesty , or take a public position with a face in public. To be too modest to be seen while posting onself into a public role just does not make sense.

Answer 8

How I see it, wearing a hijab or veil doesn't change anything about the person's job performance. For all we know, she could be twice the employee as the person you are making eye contact with. Everyone has their own opinion as to how people should be. I say you ignore what the people you mentioned in your question and make your own decision as to what to believe about that.

Unlike what the post before mine says, Muslim women are not forced to wear them, they have the right to follow whatever beliefs they wish.

Answer 9

They will have all different type of answers to back themsleves up but they will never understand what the Islam teaches us as muslims, and it's better for us as women to do as Islam suggests. these people would never understand and let them be because it will come after them on the judgement day. Not everyone understand your point because not every one is muslim, and its not their religion. But I totally agree with you.but you know how is it going for muslims ...

Answer 10

I learned something new today. Before reading your question, I never realized that Western women wore tank tops because of their religious beliefs.

Which religion emphasizes tank tops? I'm pretty sure I'd like to join.