The Niqab Rears It's Ugly Head Once Again.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2416632/Muslim-students-banned-wearing-niqab-Birmingham-Met-college-security-reasons.html

Was this college right to make this ruling?

/// Imaani Ali, 17, believes the ban on veils is a breach of her freedom ///

There are many things in life that breach our 'FREEDOM' Imaani Ali, they are mainly called 'RULES'.

[sp1814]

No-one is saying that AOG isn't free to make his points however he wants.

If anyone had tried to get this question banned, then you would have a point.

We haven't.

AOG posts questions that have a point, and we counterpoint.

If we didn't, then his questions, indeed, all of our questions, would run out of steam on page one, because it would just be people agreeing.

[pixie373]

Not at all. Nobody has to agree with his post, but since 16.17, the responses have just been personal criticisms and irrelevant to his question.

[naomi24]

Pixie, I agree. Stick to the question.

[Khandro]

The connection attempted earlier on about an English bride's wedding veil and the niqab is completely specious. The veil is part of the wedding ceremony and is entirely symbolic, the bride at the alter lifts her veil and is then kissed by her husband symbolising their vowed unity, and is then no longer of any purpose.

[pixie373]

I don't think the symbolism of a bride's veil is any better, to be honest.

[naomi24]

As far as I'm aware, a bride is required to remove her veil before the ceremony begins - just to be sure she is who the groom thinks she is.

[Zacs-Master]

Lets just stick to the story shall we? You don't get many brides wandering around a campus in a(see thru) veil every day do you?

[pixie373]

Maybe. I thought the idea was the father passing his property to the groom and the veil stays on until after the vows and then the groom is allowed to see her face.

[naomi24]

^^I was going to say that ....

[naomi24]

^^ That was to Zacs.

No, Pixie. I think the idea is that the groom must know to whom he is actually being married.... but we digress.

[Zacs-Master]

'I was going to say that'.....
And then you perpetuate the ridiculous debate.....?

[pixie373]

Sorry zacs. I was answering khandro and also wondering if there were similarities in the reasons for wearing niqabs and veils, so not completely off-topic.

[naomi24]

Zacs, Hardly. Threads evolve, I'm polite - and I've said we digress.

Bedtime. Night all.

[pixie373]

Night, naomi

[LazyGun]

Latest news on this issue; Birmingham Metropolitan University have just announced that they will not, after all, be enforcing the "niqab ban" after all, following protests, complaints and petitions.

Is this a "humiliating climbdown", as it has been described, or merely a recognition that their original premise has been described by some as draconian?

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-metropolitan-college-drops-controversial-5921560

In that same article, it also touches on the other recent case concerning the niqab - the muslim women ordered to unveil by the judge - apparently the judge has now reversed that decision too, and allowed her to continue to wear her niqab in court, presumably subject to some kind of private verification of her ID.