Burqa Ban

I thought that Belgium was the first to impose a ban on the burqas! But anyway it is right to ban the kind of clothing that will hide a person's face and entire body while cleverly being able to conceal any weapons or bombs etc. Nowadays with increasing incidents of terrorism in public places where the goal is to kill the maximum number of civilians, it is only appropriate that such a ban be in place. Where the matter of public security is concerned and we are talking about many peoples' lives, religion and religious belief HAS to take a back seat! In my country India, we cannot have such a ban and it will never be tolerated here, but except for a handful few, all muslims are very much concerned about national security so we do not have to worry about such incidences!

There was a case the ACLU brought forth about a Muslim woman in the US who refused to reveal her face for a driver's license photo. She claimed discrimination. Funny thing about this case that the DMV's lawyers brought up, was that this woman, by the laws of her faith (sharia) was not allowed to DRIVE. So, why the suit? Why go for a driver's license if you never intend to use it? Because the Muslims are doing everything they can to change our laws and our culture and using our courts to do it. I agree with the responder who said we should not pass laws on what a person wears. If it is their law or cultural norm for women to cover their faces, they have that right to do so, UNLESS it causes a public disturbance. Not uncovering for a ID picture is ridiculous and defeats the purpose of the picture in the first place. Wouldn't you agree? I think France has a right to pass this law. I think they understand the danger of allowing people to use sharia to change their culture and laws. I think they understand the nature of this better than we do.

Even if its mostly a ‘Christian’ nation you are talking about, its secular and gives enough freedom and rights to all its citizens for the evil to take advantage of that! Also, the west (with its multi-ethnicity, freedom and inclusive policies) has been pampering and wooing non-Christians and foreigners for long and Muslims form a sizeable chunk of that! One cant suddenly wish them to follow the ways of Christian society just coz the local Christian population feels threatened by terrorism Regarding the Burkha, …it is not compulsory for Muslim women to wear the burkha, the Quran only says that both men and women are to dress decently. It was Muhammad’s interpretation of keeping everything else, except the face and hands, covered. His followers have reached the summit of his misogynist ways… they have (in many cases) made even covering the face compulsory, so the women end up looking like billowing black tents with only slits for eyes.. So yes, those who interpret the burkha as a symbol of male dominance over women, are correct. Also, its equally correct that the burkha today is the best hideaway for terrorists of any religion or even robbers and other miscreants. However, in such multicultural and multi-ethnic society, one cant just ban the burkha totally…what could be done is to have a discussion with local Muslim leaders and make them see the issue (not that they don’t see it themselves, but never expect them to take the initiative) so that women can wear the burkha but keeping the face open should be made compulsory… in other words, ban burkhas that have only slits for eyes.

I didn't see this one! I would have ranted sooner. The odd thing to me is that a lot of women dressing in full gear don't really have a "choice" in the matter in the first place. Yeah, sure, someone can pick here and state that they can "choose" not to. But we see in many different Muslim sects that your only two "choices" are do as the higher powers say or face severe punishment. I'm not sure I agree with France. I don't want the United States to trump someone's expression of their religious beliefs. Of course, even "expression" in America cannot cross a line. Public decency with streakers and "FIRE" in a crowded theater ("speech," but whatever) and all that. So I don't know. I'll think on it some. I do understand the intent. France is putting its foot down on what it means to be "French" and are taking a stand against multiculturalism morphing into a section of the country where beatings and neglect and abuse and secret stonings and lashings and mutilations follow. And if that's bigoted, tell it to the many folks in Islam subscribing to these things! Tell it to the vast majority of Muslim-controled countries that allow these things. As I've said before and begged someone to tell me if they know better, you simply cannot tell "Muslims" apart, as a people, as in which Muslim are fine to worship privately while obeying a country's laws and which Muslims want to institute Islam's laws and feel as if the world should convert. So falling into line with how a country operates and not acting more as a cult member is a good start. But I'm still not sure I'm all for it. I don't know.

Rarely do I see anyone wearing a burqa, but you won't see its banning in the U.S. for safety or any other reason because it would violate "the freedom of expression". Right now, I'm cool...but in the future, who knows.

Well, I always believed in 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. That is not to say you should not do anything at all and abandon your tradition/customs/religion in another place, but at least follow the accepted mode of living in public. What you do in your own home/room, no one will say anything to that. My opinion is that if France is banning Burqa, it is the duty of anyone who goes there to follow the rules and laws set out by the country. I have heard that some Muslim countries are making it compulsory for any women to cover completely in their countries. If they are imposing their rules on Foreigners and those who moved there like that, why are they making it a big deal if other countries make their rule? As other responders have mentioned, Muslim (or the Quran) don't mention that women should cover their face. So why are they insisting on covering their face? Just my humble opinion, of course.

A good compromise would be to summon a female employee, as soon as a veiled woman walks in the door. Then with no men present, shed have no problems taking off the veil.

I wonder what if there is a Muslim woman terrorist who wants to pass for an innocent Muslim woman and wears the same burqa as she does, is the same height, same shape, in fact they could be considered identical twins because their eyes are the same. To me it is a good idea. There is no way that you can say a person is innocent because she wears a full face veil and what if she is a European who set up a bomb and disguised herself or himself as a veiled Muslim woman to get away? Yes, I sort of think this way.

I personally don't feel anyone has the right to tell someone else what to wear, and I don't think burqas should be banned. If you choose to wear one, you should have the right to do so. If you choose not to wear one you should also have that right. I don't think there should be laws about what a person can and cannot wear beyond the laws that state that we may not expose our private areas in public. I feel dress codes in various institutions like schools etc are appropriate.. but nobody should be fined for wearing something they choose to wear.

Hello laglen, actually wearing burka or niqab is not compulsory in Islam. In Islam, women are told and it is compulsory for them to cover their body accept face and hands.

I have problem with women in burqa are respectable and women with less or no clothes rapable mentality.

There is an additional fine of $44,000 to persons forcing others to cover their faces in public. That fine I like a lot. Honestly, I feel better seeing a person's face. Such a law would never pass in this country, but unfortunately, I can all too easily see a law passing forcing us to wear the burqha because we don't want to hurt other people's feelings. That scares the living mischief out of me as it would be another step toward giving in to everything except what made us a great country. I cringe every time we make one more step toward separation instead of being the mixing pot we are supposed to be. Look around you - communities are divided more and more every year because those coming to this country do not want to really become a part of America, but because they can be safer still being a part of the country they left.

I think instead of rushing to ban the burqa instead has a massive campaign to educate these women of alternative choise. There are muslim countries like indonesia, malaysia , singapore and other similar muslim populated coutries where the whole head covering scaft are not followed.Banning only cause them to wear it more since we know muslim people are sensitive and violent bunch. Because banning to inflict their freedom of religion practise.Banning straight away do inflict their freedom of religion practise and only feed terrorists notion that they are being attacked and prosecuted.

Here in Catholic dominated Philippines we don't practice it's against womens rights I really dont understand why they ban such wearing of Burqa, here in Mindanao you are free to wear it even my Mother wear eventhough we are Roman Catholics, may be it really depends upon such interpretation.