What is your opinion of various European countries banning Hijab?

Question

I can't stand the excepted discrimination happening in America and Europe to Muslims. The ban is not only on Hijab but also on other relgious symbols like huge crosses, jewish skulls, and turbans. But the rule affects Sikhs and Muslims more because of the head wear they put on. Sikhs, and muslims are only allowed to cover using a thin piece of fabric, while christians and jews can still wear smaller jewelery pieces. It seems pretty obvious this law was meant to affect the muslims more than anyone. Especially since in Europe practicing christians are decreasing rapidly.

People view the hijab as a sign of oppresion but they don't have the same opinion of other religons. For instance some christians choose to cover their heads like the Amish and Quaker woman, jewish women cover their hair ( sometimes with wigs but its still covered). So whats the fuss?

A general ban has been put into place in France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and Russia.

First, I'm not a Muslim I am a Christian.

Discrimination(def.)-Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit;

Lets be clear this is discrimination.

Ban doesn't just affect muslims it affects Sikh's, or anyone else who as apart of their religon feel it neccesary to wear more than just a symbol or piece of jewelry.

And excuse me for not mentioning the ban in other countries like Turkey, and Egypt.

Answer 1

Good. The Hijab is a major security challenge. Modern society has begun to hinge on the idea that security is dependant upon visibility. Thus, anything that conceals body form and/or face needs to be forbidden in public. Now, if a church/mosque/temple wishes to provide a changing space so such attire can be worn during services, fine. But people better remember to change back into appropriate clothing before leaving the building.

Yes, yes the law was meant to affect Muslims more -- few others have requirements to conceal their body form and/or face. A head covering does not violate the situation, nor does religious jewelry. This law was not passed to forbid religious symbolism, it was passed to support proper necessity of security.

Answer 2

The 'Ban" you speak of is also in place in Kuwait and was enacted without ANY pressure from a Western Society.

The Hijab was banned for two reasons.....
1- The women wearing it could not properly see and several very nasty accidents were caused because the women simply ran right into the other vehicle or person on the street.

2- Kuwaiti Law requires checkpoints and those checkpoints demand that the persons in the car be properly identified by coparing their face to the ID card. Women objected at first but the Clerics have sided with the Kuwaiti Government on this and the women are not supposed to wear them anymore.

Answer 3

I think it's really unfair cz each individual has the right to follow the religion of his choice and show that he's proud of it. Hijab is an integral part of Islam, it is derived from Quranic injunctions and its practice is not symbolic or a fashion or cultural statement but rather it is a manifestation of being a Muslim and following the Islam. But maybe the government banned it cz it was causing violent problems between the muslims and the other religions.
(Christian girl)

Answer 4

It is a fear reaction. It serves to separate the religious people even more. This is a totally normal reaction in a people suffering from siege mentality. In one way I can understand it. The Europeans have a population of 10% or higher muslims. The regard them as strangers and invaders. I think things that increase the separation are good. After the religious wars are over and all these sand desert originated religions have destroyed each other we can have true peace and sanity for a while.
Bring on the religious wars, the more of them (jew, muslim, Xtian, hindu...) kill each other off the fewer we will need to re-educate.

Answer 5

Anyone anywhere should be able to practice their chosen religion as they wish; that's one of the guiding principles/rights of our country (USA). Unfortunately, not all countries - or states, or cities, et al. - recognize or accept this as a guiding principle/right. (N.B.: It's usually not a right in Muslim countries....)

Since 9/11, many nations appear to have become paranoid about security - and/or they've wished to somehow punish those whose religion seems to be the same as that of the murdering terrorists - an insanity in and of itself. My sense is that, once some women chose to become so-called "suicide bombers" - which is a misnomer and needs to be changed to "mass murderers" -
their style of dress, which conceals so much, became a target of those in charge of security. That's understandable and perhaps even reasonable. However, when all Muslim women are targeted because of their choice of hijab, that's just ridiculous - and bigoted. It's definitely not an action a civilized country can be proud of.

Answer 6

Currently Tunisia since 1981, and Turkey since 1997, are the only Muslim- majority countries which have banned the hijab in public schools and universities

Answer 7

Its Racism !!! though they claim to be democratic ,peace-loving, borad minded and bla bla but can't allow a muslim lady to cover her head only....Thats ridiculous!!!i m sure muslim ladies can't hide bomb in their hijab (one excuse) , and hijab means covering head, and with that they can still be identified(second excuse)...as identifcation is from face and not from hair..they realy have no justification for this except for those lame excuses !!! It sometimes surprises me that when our muslim country can give christains their religious freedom why can't such developed countries affored to do the same??

Answer 8

Every racist has what they believe is "a legitimate excuse"..
eg..searching a black mans car ;WHY?"cause its usually black men that has a weapon or drugs in the car"..

Questioning a black or Hispanic man in a white neighborhood;WHY?"they usually are there to rob a house"...

RACISM IS RACISM there is no excuse:
As a feminist I have the right to wear or not wear what I want and no country or man etc..has no right to tell me otherwise.
I can run around with a head cover or shave my head bald its nobodies business..
And those who say otherwise are male chauvinist.

Answer 9

Discrimination isn't about asking people how to dress. In a public place anyone can wear whatever they like. But in schools and places where "fairness" and equality should rule, then there can be rules: take your hat off in a courtroom when the judge comes in, don't go nude in a McDonald's, for example.

In a secular society, we do not value people separating themselves from others. The hijab-wearers can go to a private Muslim school and wear it there. Not in public schools.

Answer 10

I think the ban on the hijab is great, it was even done in Turkey to cancel Islamic fanatics trying to rule over everything.