Is it right for countries to ban the Islamic burqa? [ENDS 01/08/2010]

[alexxxxx]

nope, violation of rights. i mean obviously it should have the same security restrictions as hoodies, helmets if necessary, but i dont see why it should be treated differently than other clothing. people keep saying "you dont know whats under there," well... yeah? but you do realize that 80% of our bodies are covered in public in regular circumstances, you could say that about someone in even the most casual clothing.

this is exactly how i feel.

and i swear i haven't seen your username round here in a long time.

[Luke]

My light response, but for Britain's perspective, I say that if you live here, you go by our way of life. I believe if we went to their original country and dressed 'British', we'd be ATLEAST persecuted. Not sure how to explain this but to shorten it - don't like it, get out. Was it one of the 7/7 bombers who walked past a police station with one of these Burkas on laughing? In terms of security, they should be banned asap. You're not allowed to wear motocycle helmets or other items which fully cover your face anymore, so why should Burkas be allowed.

I think it should be the British public who decide, not the government..

[Swastika]

I personally like knowing and seeing who's walking towards me, i don't particularly feel comfortable when im walking near somebody with a Burqa on.
I think the French did the right thing in banning the Burqa, it does nothing good for the country and its a huge security risk.

I mean, look at this photo:

Show Hide

Without sounding racist, i don't know who or even what's under that burqa, there could be a bomb or a man or anything.
I know you can conceal bombs with normal clothing but the burqa is very baggy and in my opinion a very good piece of clothing for a suicide bomber, because it hides your identity and nobody dares ask a muslim woman to remove one and the fact that its usually black. It would be very hard to identify a possible bomb or weapon underneath one.
Not to mention they are intimidating and symbolise the male dominance in Islamic countries.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The terrorist threat is very small if not non-existent, which is why i've been arguing for a long time for a relaxation of the stupid and ridiculous laws in airports and everywhere. We have had terrorist laws and legislation used as an excuse to spy on families by councils - the same goes on in the United States with the hated US Patriot Act that Bush pushed through and what Obama has not repealed.

The ideal situation in my book would be to treat all attacks/discrimination the same - within the existing laws against violence and so on. That would mean 'homophobia' or 'racism' would not be reconisged in courts as a seperate charge, they would be classed as any other crime be it violence or any other crimes. The same goes for the burqa - treat it the same as hoodies and so forth, meaning in airports you have to remove them and that private companies/state companies can ask you to remove them should they see it fit.

[Hitman]

nope, violation of rights. i mean obviously it should have the same security restrictions as hoodies, helmets if necessary, but i dont see why it should be treated differently than other clothing. people keep saying "you dont know whats under there," well... yeah? but you do realize that 80% of our bodies are covered in public in regular circumstances, you could say that about someone in even the most casual clothing.

But we can see the people's face - we can identify them instantly. With a burka you cannot. It is common sense to put security before clothing 'rights' - and we're not singling out burkas, if there was a ban on the burka then there should also be a ban on balaclavas and any other garment that covers your face (expect for bike helmets when on a bike).

[ziziziz]

It should be banned in England, i know theyve annouced they will not ban it but by doing this in my opinion is in a way advertising it, wrong doers will know now that the burqa is "acceptable" and will not be asked to remove them thus meaning they can do their activities under them whatever it may be, terrorism to a shop theft or a mugging whatever.
I'm not racist and i accept other cultures but i do feel its a security risk, im not going to say "they should go to their own country then they can wear it" but i would say it is England and tbh we should not be scared of being labelled "racist" its not. We need our own rules and the people wearing burqas must abide by them, look at Dubai, youre not allowed to kiss your loved one in public, if you do you face the risk of prison.

[alexxxxx]

But we can see the people's face - we can identify them instantly. With a burka you cannot. It is common sense to put security before clothing 'rights' - and we're not singling out burkas, if there was a ban on the burka then there should also be a ban on balaclavas and any other garment that covers your face (expect for bike helmets when on a bike).

is it common sense though? you are giving away rights to the government telling you what you can and cannot do. what would you say if they started to ban styles of music because of the threat of violence associated with it (ie rap/grime)? then films? then journals? newspapers, because they report things that would 'de-stabalise' the country? the web to do with 'protecting the country'?

[Jordy]

no because i don't think the state should have any say over what people wear. It's none of their business.

However i believe that private businesses and government offices should be able to choose whether or not to ask people wearing a veil covering their FACE (and face only) when they come into the building due to security and ID requirements.

Also strict laws should come in against men who make women wear clothes like this.

I am also of this view, it comes down to basic freedom which so many of you in this thread bang on about constantly yet you're against people wearing whatever they like. Airports, any businesses and workplaces should be able to ban the burqa for whatever reason they wish, whether it's security or simply because it makes people feel uncomfortable. People should be able to walk down the street wearing them though, much like you can with a helmet or balaclava.

Britain is a successful multi-cultural society and just because our views differ with theirs does not mean we should force our Western views and equality on to them, if they wish to stick to their beliefs that's fine with me. I don't think they should inflict their views on us and neither should we on them.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I am also of this view, it comes down to basic freedom which so many of you in this thread bang on about constantly yet you're against people wearing whatever they like. Airports, any businesses and workplaces should be able to ban the burqa for whatever reason they wish, whether it's security or simply because it makes people feel uncomfortable. People should be able to walk down the street wearing them though, much like you can with a helmet or balaclava.

Britain is a successful multi-cultural society and just because our views differ with theirs does not mean we should force our Western views and equality on to them, if they wish to stick to their beliefs that's fine with me. I don't think they should inflict their views on us and neither should we on them.

Britain is not a successful multi-cultural country anymore - we now have racial ghettos with people who cannot even speak the mother tongue of this country. The entire thing is a sham and its PC speak to pretend otherwise that everything is fine and dandy. If immigration continues as it is now we will have racial riots within the next few decades and Enoch will be proved right as what happened in France.

To ask a bigger question, who ever gave permission for this 'multi-cultural project'?

The burqa should not be banned provided all 'anti-discrimination' laws are dropped also - either everything comes under the same law or it does not, that includes the burqa issue. To force somebody against their will to do something I am sure is enshrined within English law somewhere and that would be the right way to go about it. The same applies (as I said above) to discrimination laws - if you attack somebody for no reason you should be tried under the same circumstances that if you attacked somebody because they are gay.

[Jordy]

Britain is not a successful multi-cultural country anymore - we now have racial ghettos with people who cannot even speak the mother tongue of this country. The entire thing is a sham and its PC speak to pretend otherwise that everything is fine and dandy. If immigration continues as it is now we will have racial riots within the next few decades and Enoch will be proved right as what happened in France.

To ask a bigger question, who ever gave permission for this 'multi-cultural project'?

The burqa should not be banned provided all 'anti-discrimination' laws are dropped also - either everything comes under the same law or it does not, that includes the burqa issue. To force somebody against their will to do something I am sure is enshrined within English law somewhere and that would be the right way to go about it. The same applies (as I said above) to discrimination laws - if you attack somebody for no reason you should be tried under the same circumstances that if you attacked somebody because they are gay.

The multi-cultural project pretty much spanned out of encouraged migration from the Commonwealth and the West Indies after World War II. It is still a successful multi-cultural society, Enoch spoke of mass riots etc and there has so far only been one in Bradford and a few tussles in Birmingham in that 3 or 4 decades. Enoch is wrong. You vastly exaggerate the ghetto and language barrier, it may well be a sign of things to come but it is not a problem at the moment.

But in principal I do agree with you on anti-discrimination laws, personally I think people should be able to wear what they like down the street and businesses are entitled to ban things providing they do it fairly, for example if they ban burqas they must also ban helmets, balaclavas etc.