Are Niqab & Burka Barriers To Effective Communication & Establishing Trust & Rapport - Like In Testifying In Law Courts, Working In Professions That Require Interaction With People?

[willbewhatiwill]

Wearing insignias of one's religion like hijab, turban, bangle or crucifix should not be allowed if it is for reasons of security, health & safety or effectiveness at work (e.g. broadcaster wearing Niqab) especially in the fields employment, security, health & safety.

Employers or organisations (like TV companies, healthcare, teaching, banks, cinemas) should be able to ban Niqab & Burka, or other religious symbols for various reasons, without having to face racial discrimination court action.

However, Niqab & Burka hood, mask, helmet can hide the identity of a person, hence they should not be worn for photos required in passports, driving licence, travel & ID cards, etc, as well as for health & safety reasons.

Body searches may be even more necessary & intense for those wearing long robes & veils. Niqab & Burka can give rise to the lack of body language, as well as not demonstrating trust and openness/transparency. Niqab & Burka can be a barrier to effective communication & establishing trust & rapport - like in testifying in Law Courts, working in professions that require interaction with people (like healthcare, teaching, customer service, hospitality, counsellor, etc)

It should be possible for Niqab & Burka to be banned for various specified public gatherings (like buses). Women wearing veils can be a barrier to integration into British secular way of life, where religion is kept as a private affair without affecting the lives or well-being of society.

The differences between Muslim full head covering of Niqab & Burka, to partial head covering of Hijab, Chador, Al-Amira, Shayla, Khimar are illustrated in http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24118241

[woofgang]

Con men and women do not generally veil their faces and manage to fool people into thinking that they are trustworthy, open, honest and competent...I cannot see how an unveiled face therefore is a guarantee of those things or aids in judgement.