Does Anyone Oppose This Bill?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/09/tory-mps-ban-burqa-bill-reaches-parliament

/// The bill states that "a person wearing a garment or other object intended by the wearer as its primary purpose to obscure the face in a public place shall be guilty of an offence." It adds that "where members of the public are licensed to access private premises for the purposes of the giving or receiving of goods or services, it shall not be an offence for the owner...to request that a person wearing a garment or other object intended to obscure the face remove such garment or object; or to require that a person refusing a request...leave the premises." ///

I look forward to the debate both on here and also in Parliament.

[emmie]

jordy, i have seen that.

[sp1814]

emmie

But what you're proposing would mean that Muslim women couldn't wear what they want when they want.

You see?

[emmie]

i am fully aware of that, and i did say that it would be unenforceable. however i don't like it, and never will.

[emmie]

and you have no knowledge how many women in Britain wear it because they want to or have to. Choice is one thing, some do not get that. I have choice on what i wear, where i go, what i eat and so forth, some because of their faith, culture don't get that.

[sp1814]

All I know is that I am very uncomfortable telling women how they should or should not be dressed.

If you want to dress like a hooker - fine.

If you want to wear a burkha fine.

However, me with my Western background am not going to support a law which tells Muslim women what that can and cannot do...because that would make me as bad as their (alleged) husbands/fathers.

[sp1814]

emmie

How are you with headscarves?

And turbans?

Dreadlocks?

Are they allowable?

[emmie]

for pete's sakes we are talking about women, what the hell has dreadlocks got to do with this.

[emmie]

i said before and will say again if you like, i don't like the burkha, veil, plain and simple, think that might be the end of that.

[mccfluff]

I oppose any law that tells me how I can dress.

[mccfluff]

although I admit it would be amusing to see veiled brides arrested....

[andy-hughes]

emmie - dreadlocks are relavent to the debate because they are a faith symbol in the same way that the burka is.

Strict Rastafarians are not permited to cut or comb their hair, so their hair becomes a visual symbol of their faith - unlike white crusties who affect the look because they like it.

[emmie]

that was a point i made at the beginning of this interminable thread.

[emmie]

cross posted.

[sp1814]

emmie

You realise that Rastas can be women...right?

[sp1814]

Anyway - to summarise...you would support a law banning burkhas, although you accept it would be difficult to uphold.

And...alongside that, you agree that women should not be forced to dress how society dictates?

Is that a fair summary?

[Zeuhl]

This is not about how people dress

It is about the right to see the face of anyone that we have to interact with

A mask is not an item of clothing - it is either a piece of safety equipment or a method of disguising a person's identity

[sp1814]

Zeuhl

From what I have read on this thread, it seems that people want veils/burkhas banned from public spaces whether or not we directly interact with these women.

That's a bit...strong.

[jake-the-peg]

It is about the right to see the face of anyone that we have to interact with

Right? what Right is that?

How is it different to a telephone conversation?

It's about your attitudes and prejudices!

[marg14a]

Without doubt gets my vote and everybody should agree

[jake-the-peg]

//and everybody should agree //

Classic!

Go on say 'right thinking people' you know you want to!