Immigration Minister rules out British ban on burka

[Hitman]

Banning the wearing of burkas in public would be 'rather un-British', the Immigration Minister said today as he attacked efforts to make it illegal in this country.
Damian Green said it would be 'undesirable' for Parliament to try to pass such a law, which would be at odds with the UK's 'tolerant and mutually respectful society'.

Fellow Tory MP Philip Hollobone introduced a private members' bill which would make it illegal for people to cover their faces in public.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0u2E2LyKy

It's 'un-British' to walk around with your face concealed too. :rolleyes: I think this is pretty crap, because I am sure there were some opinion polls done, and the majority voted for them to be banned... if the people want it then they should do it.

[GommeInc]

To be fair, it would be un-British as it's British to be open-minded, but at the same time it is over stepping the mark having the burkha where it's not needed here

[Catzsy]

Well interestling even the moderate muslim leaders support a ban believing that it is used mainly just to oppress women.

One of those who thinks the burka should be outlawed is the chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford.

"We're not telling these women what they can wear. We're telling them the only thing they should do is uncover their faces," said imam Dr Taj Hargey.

"I think this notion that somehow this is a religious symbol, a Koranic requirement, is nonsense."

This is quite a conundrum when people say that we shouldn't have a ban because we are a tolerant country which then
actually is contradicted by the 'oppression' of women argument.

In this survey 2/3 of british people would like a ban on it.

Link:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-...ieve_Islamic_G

[GommeInc]

This is quite a conundrum when people say that we shouldn't have a ban because we are a tolerant country which then
actually is contradicted by the 'oppression' of women argument.

In this survey 2/3 of british people would like a ban on it.

Indeed, it's an attack on human rights and beliefs - women now have rights and the burkha is considered to make women objects, yet they have the right to wear them, and suggesting they shouldn't brings back the idea they're objects. It's messy

[cocaine]

quote in thread title should be extended to ".. because we're too scared to ban it"

[Catzsy]

quote in thread title should be extended to ".. because we're too scared to ban it"

You could be right there. The PC brigade has lost any common sense it ever had.

[Hitman]

Good points. At the end of the day Britain is relaxed/open minded - you can wear what you want, but when security comes into it there must be priorities, just like with the bike helmets and balaclavas. I'm glad that some Muslim leaders oppose it too, maybe that will help.

But yes, the PC brigade is most likely too scared... sigh.

[PaulMacC]

To be frank I've never seen anything more unBritish than someone walking around in a burka.

[Moh]

I bet hes only saying that because if it does get banned, he'll get a fair few complaints from immigrants.

In Europe, we have the largest defence systems. So being "British" is about secure and safety - so it's not exactly unBritish is it?

[alexxxxx]

emotionally, i feel like they should ban it (especially inside) as it seems oppressive. but in my head i feel like they shouldn't because the government has no right to tell me or anyone else what i can or cannot wear.

In this case i feel that private businesses and public offices should be able to ask people to not conceal their face whilst in the building (security risk) or when to prove their ID - just like you would with someone wearing a motorbike helmet, but banning on the street? in people's houses? no.

it's a cultural thing and i think that it is a barrier to people integrating into mainstream british society and it is beyond me why anyone would want to wear it - even for being modest. you can be modest without having to put yourself away like that.

i don't find it offensive, why should i care what someone else is wearing, nor threatening, it's just weird.