Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2

Human rights

Ban the Burkha facebook campaign

33 replies

Rivercam · 07/09/2014 13:29

I have just looked at my facebook page and someone has posted a 'Ban the Burkha campaign from Britain First. I've never heard of these before. I felt unnerved by it (As I do with any apparent far-right, or even semi-far right organisations).

(I don't have any problems with burkhas so long as the women wearing them are happy to wear them, and not forced to do so).

OP posts:

Report

WorraLiberty · 07/09/2014 13:35

It'll never happen in the UK so I wouldn't worry about it.

AlpacaLypse · 07/09/2014 13:39

Social pressure in a predominantly 'old-fashioned' muslim dominated community could be seen as making women from that community feel obliged to use a veil, hijab or burkha.

insancerre · 07/09/2014 13:43

Britain first are fascists
I judge my Facebook friends hugely if they like or share anything by these clowns

Territt16 · 23/12/2014 11:12

I cant stand Britian First but I agree with banning the Burkha, if i cant walk down the road wearing a full face balaclava I don't see why another group should be aloud to cover there face in public?

SirChenjin · 23/12/2014 11:15

I've never heard of Britain First, but yep - I'd happily ban the burkha. No place for it in the 21st century.

Ohmygrood · 23/12/2014 11:19

Territt16 - why do you want to walk down the road wearing a full face balaclava? Do you feel the cold terribly?

Territt16 · 23/12/2014 11:31

Ohmygrood, I dont really, but I dont see why I should be allowed to if the burkha is allowed?

CatCushion · 23/12/2014 11:40

You are allowed to Territt (aren't you?)If you're walking around with a full sized baseball bat or an kalashnikov as well, then that would be why you'd then be qustioned about the balaclava.

I do think face veils should be banned in court, through customs, and at other times/places where one has to think of the greater good of society above one's own choices.

Britain First uses facebook posts as a political weapon, to mislead people into thinking they are an acceptable organisation.

whatsagoodusername · 23/12/2014 11:41

What makes you think you can't wear a full-face balaclava? I support your right to do so

Theredandthewhite · 23/12/2014 11:45

It's bizarre how much people care about what other women are wearing. WTF difference does it make to you?

WhyYouGottaBeSoRude · 23/12/2014 11:52

Tbh if you arent allowed to wear a full face balaclava and that is important to you i'd rather you fought to secure your right to do it rather than seek to remove the rights of another that have no effect on you whatsoever.

Have you a petition to sign for your campaign to legalise the balaclava?

Ohmygrood · 23/12/2014 12:13

Is it illegal to wear a balaclava?
It's probably not a great idea to walk around Tescos in one (unless you enjoy being followed by the security guards) but I can't see why a stroll down the road wearing one would be a problem.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 23/12/2014 13:31

The police can ask you to remove a face covering but of course you can wear a balaclava. The change was brought in by Teresa May due, in part, to EDL protests. Many of whom wear balaclavas to avoid identification when engaging in illegal activities.
The ski resorts of Scotland would have a problem with any anti-balaclava law.

WhyYouGottaBeSoRude · 23/12/2014 14:54

Well there you go territt you can wear your bala to your heart's content. Can we leave burkhas alone now?

HermioneWeasley · 23/12/2014 14:59

Why are people so keen to defend the burka? I get that the motivations of Britain First and I are probably not aligned on this, but I find it offensive. It's a repulsive symbol of misogyny, and it offends me as much as the "laddish" 'rape her' t shirts that are produced. It's saying women are sexual objects.

I'm not campaigning to ban it, but I'm not going to defend it either.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 23/12/2014 15:00

Well some women make a perfectly free choice to wear it. It's not always a symbol of oppression.

SirChenjin · 23/12/2014 15:11

Not a sign of oppression? Really?

Ask yourself this. If some bloke tried to start a cult nowadays which involved covering women and girls from head to toe, and shunning or attacking them if they didn't, what do you think we would say to him?

The burkha contributes FA to society or the progression of women in the 21st century. If any woman believes it's her choice to wear the burkha then she has been well and truly brainwashed.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 23/12/2014 15:18

It's not the only culture that involves the covering of the head/hair. I have bigger things to worry about than people who know their own minds deciding to dress in a certain way.
I thoroughly disagree with women being forced to wear it and forced not to wear it.

tethersend · 23/12/2014 15:23

I fundamentally disagree with the concept of the burkha, and feel similarly to SirChenjin.

However, I would never support a ban. This would simply place the state in the role of the oppressor. The state should not be allowed to tell women what to wear.

I want to live in a society where there are things I disagree with- it's similar to the old adage "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

CatCushion · 23/12/2014 15:37

The burka is not just the head/hair. That would be a hijab. That is not what is being discussed here. (Though my mum and later my sisters and I campaigned against wearing head coverings in our own churches...so I do understand the point you are trying to make.)

SirChenjin · 23/12/2014 15:44

I disagree. I think that it is the place of the state to intervene when people (usually women and girls, funnily enough) are being oppressed in the name of religion.

CatCushion · 23/12/2014 15:49

Sorry, I meant we're discussing the burka (full body and face covering) not just the hijab (hair/head). :)

tethersend · 23/12/2014 16:06

The state can intervene without banning the burkha though, SirChenjin.

In fact, banning the burkha would be a lazy, knee-jerk reaction which would do very little for those women who are oppressed. Where is the support? The refuges? The education? The resources to support oppressed women? The legislation to stop men oppressing women?

Banning an item of clothing would not achieve liberation for anyone; it would just change the name of their oppressor.

SirChenjin · 23/12/2014 17:32

Not at all. The state can and should take a stand by banning the burkha, making it clear that the UK does not welcome, support or recognise symbols of religious oppression. Far from being a lazy knee jerk reaction it sends a very clear message to those intent on keeping women and girls separate from the rest of society that this garment does not contribute to progress in any way.
I agree that other support should be put in place, absolutely - but the 2 approaches should go hand in hand.

tethersend · 23/12/2014 17:38

I can't agree with that.

What other forms of religious dress do you think should be banned?

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.