France's burka ban

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6gqmpsn

Well done the French for having the guts to introduce the 'burka ban', but it seems with a little trepidation.

/// Earlier, French police said they will be enforcing the country’s new burka ban "extremely cautiously" because of fears of provoking violence. ///

Belgium introduced a full ban last year, and a ban also looks likely in Holland, Spain and Switzerland.

Could Britain ever have the guts to do likewise?

[mollykins]

I hope so . . .

[douglas9401]

No

[237SJ]

How ironic. In Saudi Arabia you have the religious police rapping the knuckles of any women who are showing their ankles under their abayas and in France they are rapping the knuckles of women wearing veils. Seems like two sides of the same coin to me.

[bednobs]

i also wondered about frances laws about "Overt religious symbols" in communal areas - what about nuns and priests?

[Zeuhl]

People should be able to wear what they like

But that doesn't extend to concealing one's face - other than for H&S/medical reasons.

That is the domain of masked robbers and highwaymen ; it alienates people from each other and erodes the openness of our society. Imagine your local High Street if everyone concealed their face behind a mask - would you feel more or less comfortable?

[sandyRoe]

I wonder could they introduce a law here to fine overweight people caught wearing tight clothes in public?

[237SJ]

Maybe we could introduce a ban on men walking around in the summer without a shirt. I saw my first one of the summer yesterday. What makes him think I want to see his spotty back and his tattoos?

[squarebear]

especially those with their midriffs showing
http://www.fatlossbye...9/04/muffin-top11.jpg

[Zeuhl]

sandy, 237, sqbear

are these overweight, tatooed people concealing their faces from us? If not I can't see the relevance to the issue of people adopting an inappropriate arab practice of concealment.

[Tuddypat]

The burka belongs in the middle ages along with chastity belts and clitoral circumcision.

There are plenty of crazy, brainwashed and misguided people out there who'd probably volunteer for all three of the above, but just because they'd do it willingly doesn't mean it should have a place in society.

Apparently there's not much fuss about this in France - a few small demos and refuseniks, but nothing major. The general feeling among the public (muslims included) seems to be that it's not such a bad thing.

[anotheoldgit]

/// whats going to happen where there are burka bans? will the women who wear them feel they have to stay indoors? maybe.///

That is their choice entirely, there are many people who are naturalists but since walking about a public place naked is an offence, they don't necessarily choose to stay indoors, do they?

No they conform to what is accepted as proper dress, and go about their daily lives like the rest of us.

If some Muslims wish to wear a burka, then they are perfectly free to do so in their own homes or in their Mosques.

The other alternative of course is to move to a country where the wearing of one is acceptable.

[askyourgran]

I hope so, anyone with a covered face no matter what race or creed is a no-no nowadays. It seems we are afraid of upsetting the hysterical section of Islam, which is a shame, but it is not up to us to drag them into the 21st century.

[Gromit]

They'll be banning bowler hats next.

The ultimate nanny state, which dictates what clothes you can and cannot wear.

[Old_Geezer]

It is all a question as to which right one considers to have priority. The right to wear or not wear whatever you like, or the right not to feel intimidated or under threat because some unknown individual is hinding their identity.

It would take guts because there would be a large number of folk who feel the first right has priority.

[Zeuhl]

Old Git

LOL

<<there are many people who are naturalists but since walking about a public place naked is an offence>>

I think you meant >Naturists<

:-)

[askyourgran]

Isn't David Attenborough a naturalist? (Sorry aog)

[Zeuhl]

<<The ultimate nanny state, which dictates what clothes you can and cannot wear>>

No one is dictating clothing

Only the right to be able to see someone else's face