Should we make it illegal to go into a public building wearing a burka or other such face hiding dress?

Answer 1

yes most defenently, i bet its not p.c. though although it may be p.c. for people trying to blow , London, Glasgow what the hell is going on, we must not deprive them their religious dress!!!!! LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING AWAY FROM THE U.K. the natives leave while the scavengers prosper, its p.c. though!!!!!

Answer 2

It's a difficult one, because if you ban such outfits then inevitably the people who wear them will feel that they are being discriminated against. You are denying them the freedom to follow their cultural and religious beliefs and express themselves.
On the other hand, given the current security level, such clothing would obviously be the perfect disguise for would-be terrorists and make it very hard to catch them.
It is also discriminating to deaf and hard of hearing people - how are they supposed to lip read such a person?
Whilst there should be respect for other people's cultures, if you live in another country then you must follow their laws without exception. Outlawing certain clothing may be a little extreme, but if it is brought into power then it must be obeyed.

Answer 3

I was going to ask the same question. I am not muslim but my husband is and I have several that the ladies in his family have given me and some that I picked up myself while I was there. I don't know why I would think that wearing them in Jordan and not being muslim would be any different than wearing them here. I guess because there it was normal to see just about all the ladies wearing hijab and I just was one in the crowd. Here I would stand out like a sore thumb. Oh the joys of a small town! I mostly have what they call Princess Hijab (in Jordan) - the 2 piece stretchy tub like ones. I call them beginner hijab. I haven't gotten down the knack for tying the scarf yet and I'm a danger to myself with pins. I just love how I feel when I wear them. From the 1st time my sister in law showed me how to wear one it just felt comfortable and the only word I can think of is right. I usually wear them when I am at home. I also have some beautiful Jibabs that I wear all the time. I get some funny looks but most people just think I am "just a little different".

Answer 4

I think the whole idea of women being compelled to wear a garment that covers their entire body apart from their eyes/hands/feet is objectionable. I've asked Muslim colleagues why men aren't also required to wear the niqab,burkha etc, and not one of them has been able to give a satisfactory answer. The fact is that in Islam women are second class citizens, regardless of the fact that they may be British citizens and are covered by anti-discrimination laws. Until Muslims in Britain recognise that British law takes precedence over Islamic law then this will continue to be a problem. I wonder how many Muslim women would wear any kind of head garment if they had complete freedom of choice over whether or not to do so?

Aside to FriendlyJuiceBoxKisses; The burkha/niqab/hajjib is far more than merely a cultural garment; it is a means of subjugation. There is no text in the Q'uran that specifies that women should wear any kind of face covering, it merely says that women should dress modestly-a point it also makes in reference to men. The various headscarfs are entirely man made, and are rejected by most Muslim women when they have the choice to do so. If you really are gullible/stupid enough to imagine that many of the Muslim women who DO wear the niqab aren't forced to do so, then perhaps you should consider the text of "Reliance of the Traveller", by renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Nuh Ha Nim Keller, which states that "..the majority of scholars (with the exception of Hanafis) have been recored as saying that it is unlawful for women to leave the house with their face unveiled, whether or not there is likelihood of temptation. When there is likelihood of temptation, scholars agree unanimously that is unlawful".
This book is considered a supremely traditional Islamic text, and this small snippet offers an insight into the mentality that created the veils and headscarfs in the first place. It has often been said that they were created to prevent other men from looking at a married Muslim woman; clearly from the above passage it is far more apparent that Muslim women are not trusted to resist the power of "temptation"! As I said, the niqab and all its variants are nothing more than means of subjugation.
So next time you get on your soapbox, make sure you do actually know what you're alking about before labelling people who have the temerity to post their opinions here as jerks.

Who's the jerk now?

Answer 5

There is no need for them to cover their actual faces,many indeed don't, but when men are dressing up in burkas to commit acts of terrorism, they are bringing all the racism on themselves,so why are they getting angry towards us,we have a right to our security and if they are threatening us,then we have a right for our own safety to do something about it, if they want to keep their religious ways, then stop bombing our country!!! If they are not happy here or do not agree with our life style, then leave!!

Answer 6

I know the burka is worn for religious reasons but for the good of the country I think the face covering should be, not illegal, but an offence which warrants a fine and confiscation.
People who come to this country should be told that they HAVE to remove their burka's for the countries security.

Answer 7

Should we make illegal for a man to go out in public with hair that hangs over his shirt collar? Or, should we make illegal for women shorter than 4'9'' to be allowed on public transportation? And oh yes, should we make illegal for someone who shows the bias that you have demonstrated with your question to be allowed to own or operate a computer? Wake up. A personal expression is just that-personal.

Answer 8

I can't believe how many of you support this!! What is this world coming to?? No it shouldn't be illegal to wear a burka into a public building! It's a cultural and religious clothing. Yes, there are SOME bad people who wore them. MOST people who wear them are harmless though! They just want to hold on to their religious ideals.
I am really so furious at all of you jerks right now that I can't even write my thoughts down coherently.
Stop living in fear of everything. This is life, live it. Enjoy what you have and don't worry about the "what ifs."
I have to be honest, at the mall earlier this week I saw a women in the full dress with only her eyes showing, and yes, I did stare, but it wasn't out of fear! It wasn't because I was thinking nasty thoughts. I was ENJOYING the sight. It was my first time seeing someone like that and I just had to stare to take it all in. She was walking around with her little boy who was maybe 4 years old. They looked beautiful together and HAPPY. Did she set off a bomb? NO! She was enjoying life!! Why can't everyone else do that? Just open your eyes and look around and you can learn so much...

Answer 9

I am not racist, but it is not a bad idea, check your outer wear at the door please, after all, it has been proven that even men have entered a premises strapped with explosives on dressed in the full regalia and none were the wiser until it was all too late, and DNA doesn't lie, it was definitely male DNA.

The Burka by the way is not a religious symbol, it was enforced by the Taliban. I know this for a fact.

Answer 10

I used to agree with a lot of people here who say that making it illegal to wear a burka, etc., is discrimination but if us women visit a muslim country, we are expected to cover up out of respect for their culture, which is fair enough, but if we are to respect their traditions, then they should respect ours too. Fair is fair.

Answer 11

Not if the lady has be SEARCHED thoroughly, and everyone else is search as well. Otherwise who cares? Lots of faces SHOULD be covered up. (male and female, before you start bashing)

What difference does a face make? Especially if she's got dynamite strapped to her body.