I was just at the grocery store and saw the little screen they have which has a news ticker running and I thought I saw where the Dutch government wants to outlaw the wearing of Birkas in public.
Why in the world would they want to do that? Did I really see that?
2006-11-18 09:55:18 · 15 answers · asked by nancy jo 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They are discussing that as a possible law. There have been movements in France and the United Kingdom to do similar things. See the front page of Yahoo news, that's where I read it.
They are concerned with two things:
1. Security. If someone has on the full burbka it is easy to hide weapons.
2. National Culture. Each country has its own identity and culture. When immigrants do not adapt to the local culture it does create problems. Same problems that the US is now suffering through while striving for an "inclusive culture".
2006-11-18 10:01:02 · answer #1 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Muslim and I believe in religious freedom, except that I'm kind of confused about this particular issue. I defend a Muslim woman's right to wear a simple head scarf because it doesn't affect her active involvement in work and society and I don't think it offends anyone. In the case of the birka, however, I feel that the very act of covering her face makes the woman who wears it unable to fully interact with other people, especially the natives of a foreign country who have a very different culture and who should not have to be forced to deal with her in their own country.
Still, I now begin to face another dilemma. If these women see the birka as an integral part of their religion, then who has the right to take away their right to express it?! I live in a Muslim country but we're very tolerant with foreigners' freedom to wear what they like even if it's not quite compatible with our culture.
The question is: how far does freedom of religion go? What some European governments are doing these days implies that it only goes so far.
2006-11-18 10:14:56 · answer #2 · answered by Carmenasks 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Dutch are a highly educated and peaceful people. They really have a visceral antipathy for things that go beyond stupidity and primitivism. Burkas simply mean that women should be ashamed of themselves, they are the source of evil in this world.
Muslim women are already punished for being raped and have almost no rights.
The Burka represents what Muslim men think about their women.
Somehing to hide.
I hope they start burning burkas the same way women in this country burned they bras.
From a practical point of view, hiding your face can only mean shame or fear. What else could it possibly be?
Let's have a jihad against stupidity and primitivism!
2006-11-18 10:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Sabetudo 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, they want to outlaw them. And, seriously (I have changed my mine here), I think they are right in wanting to do so. In this world, where killing and hate is so often deciding our fates, I think people should be more open with each other-a burka closes the wearer off.
However, this is not an Islamic ''thing'', but a cultural ''thing''. And, there are very few women who wear them there. All Islam requires is wearing of the hijab, and many Muslim women do not even wear these.
2006-11-18 10:03:12 · answer #4 · answered by Shossi 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, kudos to the lovely, caring and liberal-minded Dutch. We should be free to gaze upon God's creation in all her beauty. If Dutch women are forced to wear burkas in islamic countries, the Dutch are free to ban them from their own culture in Holland. Tolerance is a two-way street.
2006-11-18 10:04:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes you did and it's an EXCELLENT idea.
After all, a birkah is basically a disguise.
Did you know that it's illegal to wear a disguise? Or to enter a bank or government office while obscuring your face?
And never forget that large amounts of explosives can be concealed under one of those things...
2006-11-18 10:06:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because they are control freaks, and seeing as how government are male dominated, hate the fact that women refuse to show off their body like cheap pieces of meat. I am a convert, and I LOVE my burkas. I have many in many different colors with so many different designs. They are the double layered kind, very elegant, very stylish. I would wear my niqaab, but every time I try to do that my husband snatches it. He doesn't even like me wearing my burqas. He would be happy if i wore just a modest dress or modest shirt and pants/skirts. I LIKE my burqas and CHOOSE to wear them. I am proud to be a loud mouthed opinionated educated employed muslim woman. I am proud to be the mother of two who also makes the money to spoil the two. I use my full rights, regardless of the stereotype that others want to portray.
2006-11-18 10:00:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 6⤋
That's great and it would be good if all the western world do the same.
2006-11-18 09:59:35 · answer #8 · answered by rossj12003 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
The U.S. should learn something from the Dutch.
2006-11-18 09:58:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
The Dutch have always been th emost tolerant country in the world. What they have recieved in thanks from the muslims is terror, intimidation and murder.
2006-11-18 09:57:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋