Am just watching the news and in France they have banned women from wearing the burqa (full face veil worn by some muslim women). Do you think this is right(for reasons of identity etc) or a breach of human rights?

i think this is a breech in human rights and religion tbh, i think its discusting! i know some people could use it to hide their identity blah blah blah but it would be like telling catholics the cannot wear a crisifix round their neck
fair enough if they wasnt allowed to wear them in airports, bannk's ect, but not allowed anywhere i definatley think its a breech in human rights x

I don't think you should be able to ban it. You should be able to force women to take it off in court, at airports, etc. I suppose its a tough one because muslims don't actually have to wear it and men sometimes force them to but I don't see how you can start legislating what people wear

Its a hard one ... from a security point of view yes its no good people having their faces covered...but I also think its really harsh to dictate what people can and can not wear

Its not like a club where they say if you want to come in here you can not wear trainers...its in general they cant wear it.

I think the rules should be in public paces where security is important, banks, airports etc - but not in general!

I agree that its a bit harsh. They are saying it is due to issues about national identity, ie that it is not the done thing in european countries.

umm see im 50/50 on this one

i thnk yes it should be banned as if some one would be walking baout like that in a airport you would be told where to go same as some places dont alow people to wear hats in a pub as you cant see them fully.. so for that reason. yes.. they shouldnt be aloud..

sayin that. why should they if its part of what they beleieve in?
people shouldnt be made to have to take off their stuff..

but then again.. if its needed to be removd, eg like a necklace, due to health and safety then it should come off. i had this sort of talk with sainsburys when i was 17.

they wanted me to take out my lip bar due to health and safety.. i said no.. coz a indian lady had a huge (i means a HUGE) gold nose studd which was about 5 times bigger than the small clear ball i had on mine. they said no she can wear it due to her religion!

I think they've done the right thing, if you look at it from a.security pov, say the anti terror unit is tracking a suspect, if they put on a burka they have a much better chance of getting away. From a human rights pov I think for some they are forced to wear it by men so it should be quite liberating for them. And for the religious side of it, the Koran does not say women should cover their face, it says they should dress modestly.

At the end of the day, and I'm ready for the bashing I'll get for this, if the middle east terrorists groups didn't keep sending their guys over to the west to spread their hatred, kill people and blow them selves up then there would never have been an issue would there? And from speaking to my muslim friends they agree, anything to stop the peaceful followers from being tarred with the same brush as the extremists.

In short I think every country that has been threatened by a muslim extremist group should follow France and ban them, sod human rights, what about helping catch the bastards that do these violent things.

I agree they should ban it. I find it very intimidating!

I've got mixed views on this. I think from a religious view they should be able to wear it but from a security view we have to be so so careful these days with all the threats about. They should have to remove in on request in banks, airports, requests from police etc.

I question what we would be expected to wear visiting a country where wearing the burka is the norm.

I can see what France is trying to do but I can also see the issue that France is a democratic country and this act is dictatorial and removes people's rights to dress as they please.

I do think provision should be made in airports and other places where photographic ID is required to enable these women to remove their burka for identification purposes.

I am mixed on this too.

I agree that people should be able to wear what they like for cultural/religious beliefs but on the other hand if we were to go to a country where the burka is the required dress, we would not be able to wear our westernised clothes and would be required to cover up, so in that respect I don't think it is unfair to expect that in a western country the burka shall not be worn.

I think it's fair to be honest. The Koran in no way says a burka has to be worn so the religious element of the argument doesn't fly with me. If I were to go over to a muslim country I wouldn't be allowed to wear shorts and a strappy top and I respect that because it is their culture so they should respect ours. I do find it very intimidating to see groups of women wearing burkas and I bet many others feel the same.

I completely agree Olliesmammy

For security reasons I think it should be banned.

I agree with Jolene / LesleyandBethany and Olliesmammy

This country is a complete walkover when it comes to people from different countries.
When I worked in asylum for the local council it was amazing how long it took the home office to deport someone if they had no leave to remain (LTR), there was one woman, an overstayer on a family visa who had been in Sheffield for 8 years and had a daughter in that time and Sheffield City council was supporting them both!

(sorry that turned into a different kindof rant but back to the point)
If you were a biker, you would have to take your helmet off to go into a petrol station, if you want to go into a pub you have to take off your hat so that you can be seen by the security cameras,
so WHY when it isn't actually a religious need and more of a personal choice should people be afforded so many concessions?!
IMO it would improve relations between muslim communities and others because there wouldn't be any mystery around the person to arouse suspicion.

xxx

I think they should be banned I definately find it intimidating as I would if somebody was wearing a baloclava or bike helmet, if I went abroad I would completely respect them and keep covered avoid public affection etc, I cannot see why its a big issue to be honest they should have been banned ages ago and good on France for getting the ball rolling, I am in no way racist and seeing somebody in a sari/dread locks or other cultural effects etc isn't a problem is it ,but we need to be able to see a persons face to feel safe.

I personally agree with it.

This is going to come out as racist but this isn't intended that way

if I went to a country where women were not allowed to wear low cut tops for example then I would abide by that because I am in someone else's country. They should respect that where they have CHOSEN to live it isn't acceptable to completely cover your face up. Sorry but if they want to live in France they need to respect France's rules.

oh i didnt realise it want a religious thing...in that case i think you all have very valid points x

im glad its banned. i think its so rude that they wear them. you cant see them or hear them speak. we wouldnt be allowed in a shop wearing a balaclava would but they are allowed the equivalent. thats racism!

My colleague brought this up with our other colleague who is muslim yesterday. She asked why do some muslims wear them and others not. Her answer was that it is usually because their husband's do not want/ allow them to be seen in public.

She also stated that there was no religious reason for such dress. She said the kuran (sp?) does talk about dressing modestly but does not anywhere state any particular dress code or rules about covering the face.

I found this really interesting and it did change my view on the france situation as before the convo, I really did think it was a violation of human rights. However, if what my colleague says is right, then I think it could be a good thing as it will allow women more onus on the way they dress rather than control by their husbands.

I know very little about the muslim religion and wish to offend no-one, just what i think from the very limited knowledge i have but also alwyas open to other views.

Mandy xx

I agree with the banning purely because if we go to their country you MUST cover up and must not show any flesh as a female and if you do you can be put into prison, also I find them intimidating when there are a group of them together

so yes i totally agree with it

I think it should be up to the women who wear them, I do however think that they should be made to show their faces where necessary for security, so if the police have a reason for exposing them, or to go through airport security etc

Sophia's mummy wrote:

My colleague brought this up with our other colleague who is muslim yesterday. She asked why do some muslims wear them and others not. Her answer was that it is usually because their husband's do not want/ allow them to be seen in public.

She also stated that there was no religious reason for such dress. She said the kuran (sp?) does talk about dressing modestly but does not anywhere state any particular dress code or rules about covering the face.

I found this really interesting and it did change my view on the france situation as before the convo, I really did think it was a violation of human rights. However, if what my colleague says is right, then I think it could be a good thing as it will allow women more onus on the way they dress rather than control by their husbands.

I know very little about the muslim religion and wish to offend no-one, just what i think from the very limited knowledge i have but also alwyas open to other views.

Mandy xx

Yeh for sure some woman are oppressed by their husbands..and it will possibly help them in a small way, but I also know there are Muslim ladies, single ones too, who choose to wear it themselves - thats where it becomes unfair to have a full ban IMO