This article expresses an opinion I've come to strongly share. To me, wearing the full burka with veil makes a statement that is not acceptable in civilised society, whether it's the woman's choice or her male relatives'.
I was against the French headscarf ban in schools, it seemed illiberal, but I'm not so sure now. According to opinion polling, the majority of French muslim women supported the ban, and they presumably know what pressures they're under in their own communities. Meanwhile in Britain we have the insane situation where schools are forbidden to ban any quasi-religious dress, no matter how inappropriate, supposedly this is required by the European Convention on Human Rights, to which both UK and France are signatories. It's worth noting that unlike eg Sikh turbans, nothing in Islam (requirement for women: "dress modestly") requires the wearing of headscarves, veils etc. Apart from a few Saudi sheikh's wives they weren't widespread in Britain until after 9/11, they are primarily a political statement of opposition to "western" values, and some muslim commentators have spoken out against their recent adoption in Britain. One chap suggested that if women did insist on wearing headscarves, they could at least make them Islam-green rather than Al Qaeda-black or Taleban-white.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment