French Burka Ban comes into force

[Suspective]

France's ban on full face veils, a first in Europe, went into force today, exposing anyone who wears the Muslim niqab or burqa in public to fines of 150 euros ($216).

A Muslim property dealer, who is urging women to keep wearing the veil if they want to, has urged supporters to go to Notre Dame cathedral in central Paris for a silent prayer during the day, and is also offering to help people pay the fines.

France's five-million-strong Muslim minority is Western Europe's largest, but fewer than 2,000 women are believed actually to wear a full face veil.

What do you think about the ban? Is it to far? And would you support a similar ban in the United Kingdom?

[-Eyeless-]

Of course it is too far, I don't see why they have the right to enforce this ban, lets be honest its not like 2,000 people are even that much in the Muslim community in France, let alone the overall population.

[rnix]

We wont do this though, thats the thing. Seems we want to stay sweet to everyone and let them walk all over us.

[-Eyeless-]

Look at it this way, we don't stop Catholics having mass, when this is a Protestant country, and the majority of people living here aren't even religious, so why would we stop women wearing burkas? No need it is just a pointless exercise.

[Inseriousity.]

No I don't agree with it. I don't think it's right to force people what to wear, whether that's a Muslim man or the State. The problem however arises due to ignorance. It seems to be the Western idea that these women are oppressed, that they have no option and are forced to wear it by their husbands. While I'm not saying that this doesn't happen, I think it's ridiculous to assume that it's the case for every Muslim woman. There are a whole host of reasons why someone would wear the burqa and therefore it'd be wrong to ban it for just one of the many reasons.

[-Eyeless-]

No I don't agree with it. I don't think it's right to force people what to wear, whether that's a Muslim man or the State. The problem however arises due to ignorance. It seems to be the Western idea that these women are oppressed, that they have no option and are forced to wear it by their husbands. While I'm not saying that this doesn't happen, I think it's ridiculous to assume that it's the case for every Muslim woman. There are a whole host of reasons why someone would wear the burqa and therefore it'd be wrong to ban it for just one of the many reasons.

Agreed, a lot of Muslim Women wear the Burka out of choice and not out of being forced, though it does happen it isn't always the case.

[luce]

It's funny because Islam actually originated in Spian/France and spread through Europe into the middle east and now they're banning practically their own religious dress. However while you may compare it to being like Catholics taking mass it's not. Unfortunately people do misuse the burka there is no way of telling who is under it and the french obviously see that as too much of a security risk

[-Eyeless-]

That was a very open comparison, two religious things, not necessarily similar . And while I do understand the security risk its still not a reason to remove some basic human right to dress how you want to and practice your religion.

[AgnesIO]

I agree with it, since whether it is right or not, they do scare people.

The fact you can walk through shops with a burqa - but not wear a hoody is ludicrous.

---------- Post added 11-04-2011 at 02:23 PM ----------

That was a very open comparison, two religious things, not necessarily similar . And while I do understand the security risk its still not a reason to remove some basic human right to dress how you want to and practice your religion.

The thing is, there is nothing in the Qur'an saying women should wear them - it is just some weird ideology.

[Fez]

It's illegal to wear a balaclava in public, so naturally, anything that hides your identity is equally illegal.