McFluff, //why do you need to see their face? // A simple scenario. Someone goes into a shop, shoves a load of goodies up his jumper, and walks out with them without paying, but he is subsequently apprehended because his face is recognised on CCTV. If someone in a burqa does it who are the police going to look for? Someone wearing a shroud?
The same applies to anyone entering, for example, an airport, with a bomb hidden under a burka. Police would have no hope of identifying them from CCTV, so there is a very definite security issue involved here.
Ichkeria, //However, simply banning it would make life pretty grim for many Moslem women, as many would probably be trapped at home.//
So we do nothing and, in effect, condone continued inequality and bullying? Yes?
Once men realised shopping, school runs, trips with the kids to the doctor, etc, were their responsibility, the women wouldn't be trapped at home for long!
Doc, burka-clad ladies would not be allowed to speak to you.