Muslims woman and veils - what do you think?

Question

Big thing being debated in the uk right now, I was interested to get some opinions on it.

For what its worth I think everyone should be able to wear and do what they want but within the constraints of everyday life in your society.

I love walking about naked but would expect some consequences if I tried it on my way down to the shops. When someone goes into a bank with their faces covered it should arouse suspicion. If here in the UK some shopping centres want to ban teenagers wearing hoodies because they can't be ID'd if they do something wrong then what makes veils different?

Nuns don't wear veils, they ewar head dress that leaves their faces exopsed - the way they should be!

Answer 1

Several points to consider:

1. to cover the face when talking to somebody is discourteous and considered bad-manners in Britain.

2. people who cover their faces with a mask are usually criminals who wish to remain unrecognised.

3. Shrouded women (are they women?) are a prime target in a riot situation - shoot first, ask afterwards. There mught be a machine gun under the shroud.

4. when in Rome, do as the Romans do - people coming to the UK presumably want to be British so they should abide by the rules of our culture.

5. It's a case of supression of women by men. The problem is that the men are devious enough to persuade the women that it's their choice and is empowering when in fact, it's the opposite.

6. Women WANT to be allowed in banks, building societies, trains, planes, airports, post offices, government offices. Like everybody else, there is a requirement for their face to be seen by the CCTV. so, ban them if wearing a mask, same as crash helmets, balaclavas hoodies etc.

7. Communication is severely impaired. Facial and eye expression forms a large part of day to day communication.

Is that enough? I certainly would refuse to approach or speak to anybody covered in a shroud. In fact, when I see one, I cross the road quickly, just in case.

It's strange, we're not allowed to offend mohomemdans, no matter what they do. They on the other hand, are allowed to insult us in this way with no repercussions.

At the end of the day, it's just bad manners and discourtesy to the public. Turkey banned veils, we should do the same. If the wearers don't like it, they should go somewhere where it's permitted. Saudi Arabia and areas governed by the Taliban come to mind.

Answer 2

Freedom of Speech is about what you say NOT what you wear.

This is all about an ongoing argument within Islam. They like so many other religions have big fights over interpretation of their own special book called the Koran.

Some say you have to cover a women completely and some say it is not required.

They cannot agree between themselves.

As for living in the UK and what rights an individual has on what they can wear, there are laws and rules that determine this.

When will people stop thinking the UK is a place you can do just anything or say anything or even wear anything?

We have rules and laws like any other country and they must be followed and obyed.

Claiming a religious reason to allow you to wear whateevr you want, where ever and whenever is the cowards way. Its an easy way to try to get change to happen all because these people feel offended.

We all get offended from time to time, deal with it and move on.

Answer 3

I personally think that if they want to wear the veil then ok, thats their choice. However, I think that in certain situations, they should take off the veil - for instance, in an airport or in a bank or somewhere! In those sort of situations, it is far safer to see someones face.

Another point, which i may get shot down for saying, is that if they live in a certain society, such as Britains, they should respect that society and do as others do.

Heres a point : do they all wear Burka in India? NO! They dont. A lot of this is just a reason to argue about human rights etc.

Answer 4

The problem with this issue is that it is both highly personal and subjective, so any attempt to arrive at a universal concensus is impossible.

From my point of view, the wearing of any kind of religous iconography or clothing is neither offensive or inoffensive. It simply serves to identify the wearer as an individual who is unprepared to take responsibility for their lives, preferring to ascribe the cause of events to some deity.

This goes for Christianity, Satanism, Wicca, or any religion. There is no documented evidence to support the existence of any 'God'. Indeed, the idea of faith has this at its core - the belief in something that all logic dictates cannot exist.

James Burke once said that the sign of a mature civilisation is one that takes responsibility for its own existence, rather than looking to 'an invisible friend' for support and guidance.

Like the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and Willie Wonka, there is no such thing as 'God'. Sorry to ruin Christmas, but it is perhaps time to put such childish ideas to rest. The millions of dead that are testament to battles fought between two sides, each of which were convinced that their invisible friend was best should provide sufficient evidence that organised religion is a system of control, by individuals who evoke a deity to afford them gravitas. Nothing more.

That said, the fact that an individual chooses to exhibit beliefs that are ludicrous when viewed in a logical light, should not mean that they are held up for ridicule or abuse. Anyone who does is so is far more misguided than their victims.

Certainly, people must believe whatever they like. However, they should not suffer for their beliefs, nor should they seek to impose them on others.

Unfortunately, the current global situation shows us just how little we have progressed since the days of the crusades. We still allow ourselves to be manipulated by those invoking pre-medieval concepts, the only thing that has changed is our increased efficiency in killing one another.

Answer 5

This is a difficult question for me to answer because of my conflicting feelings on the subject.

Generally, I consider that people should be free to express their beliefs, views or opinions. That would also include religious icons.

However, the veil as it is worn in terms of this question, raises other issues particularly in view of terrorism etc.

If, for example, I was standing in the middle of 2 women. One was wearing the veil, the other was not. I would be more inclined to proffer conversation to the woman not wearing the veil.

I have asked myself why many times, and the only answer I can come up with is that by wearing the veil the woman is distancing herself.

This may not be case and I may be unerringly unfair to the woman.

However with the problems the country is having at the moment with home-grown terrorists (and I hate using that word), I cannot imagine anyone wanting to make themselves a vulnerable target.

There would seem to be no prescriptive reason in the Quran for wearing the full veil, it is purely a matter of choice.

Answer 6

Another veil question! Look if you want to get along in life you need to obey the rules, and if you are in a job working with children then people must be able to interact with you FACE TO FACE. I am not saying that those Muslim women who choose to wear a veil shouldn't just that in a modern OPEN democratic society like ours wearing a veil won't be a big career booster.
I believe that the woman in question didn't wear the veil at her interview, which is rather deceitful and won't help other Muslim women to get into the job market.

Answer 7

When ever I look at the Muslim women with their veils on, I cant help but think it's all very dark looking, I dont mean because they are mostly dressed in black, I mean it gives off a very dark kind of feeling or atmosphere.

I dont generally have a problem with it, but I do think if Muslims decide to live in the UK then they should comply with the rules of our country to the best of their ability, the same way us westerns have to (very sricktly) comply with the rules of the eastern countries.

Answer 8

Hi hatmadlass,
I believe Muslim women wearing veil in modern times, is a classic case of blind faith. The intent behind starting the veil system in the middle ages was to protest women in the deserts of Arabia from being abducted and taken for wives by tribal chiefs because of their beauty or age. If someone wears a veil in NY city for the same reason, you can compare it with a person wearing sunglasses in the night because it daytime in the middle east.

Good debate point for sure.

Answer 9

It should be acceptable - when Muslim countries allow other religions freedom, and let non-muslim women wear what they wish. Until then, if you want to wear "the veil", leave Europe.

Answer 10

Bunch of brainless women that suffer, that are mostly abused and do not know better - I presume you don't need to be veiled to be a "good muslim" but this is what the islamofashists want you to think. Finally European countries start to understand the danger of this ridiculous practice. France banned it in schools, England, Holland, Sweden are taking step to ban it as well - I heard last time on a French TV a muslim scolar stating that no where in the Kuran it mentions that women have to be veiled in order to be believers.