Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think face coverings in public should be banned?

464 replies

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 14:53

Should all types of face covering in public be banned? I think they should. Mainly I’m concerned that people in balaclavas and face coverings are shoplifting and stealing phones etc with impunity.
People with balaclavas on marches look threatening and sinister.
Women with niqabs create a barrier between themselves and others as it’s hard to form connections if you can’t see someone’s facial expressions.
I think all face covering should be banned. It contributes to a society that feels more unsafe and divided.

OP posts:
Dogpootwo · 06/04/2026 18:00

What about heavy makeup? Lashes. Some people look completely different in heavy makeup. And then there’s the fillers and facelifts. Sometimes expression is impacted. Wigs and extensions? Is it the face being covered by fabric that’s the issue or is it the face being disguised?

all of it banned?

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:59

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:56

OK. So how many of the women that wear niqabs and burqas are make their own choices in the UK to do so?

I don't know, I haven't been able to personally meet them all to ask. Have you?
Are you suggesting the goverment making the choice for them is somehow less oppressive than leaving it up to them to make their own choice?

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:59

LakieLady · 06/04/2026 17:51

Why? It doesn't cover the face.

Ditto. Why @Notmycircusnotmyotter If you want to ban the hijab, are you thinking you'd ban Jewish and Orthodox Catholic women wearing headscarves as well?

Octavia64 · 06/04/2026 17:58

No,

people should be allowed to to wear balaclavas and helmets when ski-ing in public.

they should bloody well have to on motorbikes.

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:57

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:46

What perfectly legitimate reasons would someone have to cover their face at a demo or protest?

It's cold and they don't want icy winds giving them a frostbitten nose while they lawfully participate in a peaceful protest

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:56

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:50

My neighbour wearing a niquab is just as valid as me wearing my scarf over my nose. It's still a clothing choice and I still support women making their own clothing choices without goverment input.

OK. So how many of the women that wear niqabs and burqas are make their own choices in the UK to do so?

Westfacing · 06/04/2026 17:55

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:36

From their size, yes, they were schoolgirl age in niqab. Should I guess that you don't live in London because hijabs and sometims niqab isn't unusual depending on the borough you're in?

You guess wrongly - I live in inner London and have done so for the past 50 years

Hijabs are common... and as I said upthread, I hate to see primary-aged schoolgirls in hijab; niqabs are rare except in Tower Hamlets in my experience, but I have NEVER seen a young schoolgirl in a niqab

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:54

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:32

You misrepresented me here.
At no point did I ever say “all Muslim women “
And at no point did I compare Muslim women to Christian or Jewish women.
Oppression of women can happen in all communities. Niquabs make it easier for controlling men to isolate women.

But the goverment banning those women from wearing the outfit they feel most comfortable in is somehow less controlling?
Are you suggesting Muslim women can't possibly be trusted to chose the niquab because they want to wear it? It must always be forced upon them?
Why does the goverment get to take that choice away from women?

logicisall · 06/04/2026 17:53

That'll go down well in Shetland!
Oye you! I don't care if it's blowing a hooley and you have to walk your dog, the gov't says you can't cover your face in public!

Utterly daft idea @OpheliaWasntMad

LakieLady · 06/04/2026 17:51

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 16:14

I would ban the hijab while at it

Why? It doesn't cover the face.

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:50

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:39

What part of a face covering is not a head covering are you having difficulty understanding? Do you need a picture to help?

My neighbour wearing a niquab is just as valid as me wearing my scarf over my nose. It's still a clothing choice and I still support women making their own clothing choices without goverment input.

LakieLady · 06/04/2026 17:49

zantez · 06/04/2026 15:34

Primarily I suppose because it's not always cold out there and some people are immunocompromised, whereas religious garb is worn all the time in public places.

Despite being a lifelong atheist, I am very uncomfortable with the idea of banning people from dressing in a way that complies with the teachings and/or customs of their chosen religion.

And when a ban is proposed in respect of an item of dress that is predominantly worn by Muslim women, it could easily be perceived as Islamophobic.

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:46

dizzydizzydizzy · 06/04/2026 17:42

I think people should be allowed to wear a face covering at a demo. Somebody protesting may have perfectly legitimate reasons for wanting to hide their identity.

What perfectly legitimate reasons would someone have to cover their face at a demo or protest?

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:43

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 17:38

We had 14-16 year olds in my office for work experience (London). Two were wearing niqab
. How is that ok?

According to a PP, this is just so alien it never happens! 🙄

dizzydizzydizzy · 06/04/2026 17:42

I think people should be allowed to wear a face covering at a demo. Somebody protesting may have perfectly legitimate reasons for wanting to hide their identity.

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:41

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 17:37

"Women who identify as muslim"

is this the new men who identify as women?

"is this the new men who identify as women?" 😂

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:39

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:29

The suggestion that women who identify as muslim are less capable of choosing their own clothing than women who identify as christian or Jewish.
Apprently all Muslim women who chose to vail are forced to by their husbands and that is oppression but the goverment outlawing women's clothing choices is somehow less oppressive

What part of a face covering is not a head covering are you having difficulty understanding? Do you need a picture to help?

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 17:38

We had 14-16 year olds in my office for work experience (London). Two were wearing niqab
. How is that ok?

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 17:37

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:29

The suggestion that women who identify as muslim are less capable of choosing their own clothing than women who identify as christian or Jewish.
Apprently all Muslim women who chose to vail are forced to by their husbands and that is oppression but the goverment outlawing women's clothing choices is somehow less oppressive

"Women who identify as muslim"

is this the new men who identify as women?

catspyjamas1 · 06/04/2026 17:36

Westfacing · 06/04/2026 17:06

Tiny minority - that might explain why I truly have never seen any such thing.

How tiny?

You may not have seen their faces but surely from their size you could take a guess at their age?

Believe me, I am not a proponent of the covering of women never mind schoolgirls but I find your argument disingenuous

From their size, yes, they were schoolgirl age in niqab. Should I guess that you don't live in London because hijabs and sometims niqab isn't unusual depending on the borough you're in?

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:36

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:34

I'm quite sure I wont ever think the goverment getting to decide what clothes I, or any other adult gets wear would be appropriate. The UK is a country of freedom and if I want to wear a crop top in the summer and a balaclava fluffy hat in winter I should be allowed.
And if my neighbour wants to wear a face covering all year round i'm all for it. She is an adult and has my full support in making her own style choices.
We don't need the goverment telling us how to dress.

Fair enough.

OP posts:
TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:34

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:29

I completely accept that my proposal needs to be worked through 🤣.
But I’m quite sure you and your child will be ok .

If you child is a bit older and is mugged by some balaclavas wearing teenagers - who he cannot identify because of the face covering- you might feel a bit differently

I'm quite sure I wont ever think the goverment getting to decide what clothes I, or any other adult gets wear would be appropriate. The UK is a country of freedom and if I want to wear a crop top in the summer and a balaclava fluffy hat in winter I should be allowed.
And if my neighbour wants to wear a face covering all year round i'm all for it. She is an adult and has my full support in making her own style choices.
We don't need the goverment telling us how to dress.

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:32

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:29

The suggestion that women who identify as muslim are less capable of choosing their own clothing than women who identify as christian or Jewish.
Apprently all Muslim women who chose to vail are forced to by their husbands and that is oppression but the goverment outlawing women's clothing choices is somehow less oppressive

You misrepresented me here.
At no point did I ever say “all Muslim women “
And at no point did I compare Muslim women to Christian or Jewish women.
Oppression of women can happen in all communities. Niquabs make it easier for controlling men to isolate women.

OP posts:
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:29

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:23

You still haven't answered my question, will I get hauled away in a police car for wearing my scarf over my nose or wearing my pink fluffy balaclava hat on the school run mid winter? I mean there are over 500+ parents on a small playground, does that count as a busy public space?

Or would the law only be in place during the summer? Or only after dark? Or only in groups over 4? Or only for Muslim women and teen boys? I'm genuinely interested in the parameters of this proposed ban

Edited

I completely accept that my proposal needs to be worked through 🤣.
But I’m quite sure you and your child will be ok .

If you child is a bit older and is mugged by some balaclavas wearing teenagers - who he cannot identify because of the face covering- you might feel a bit differently

OP posts:
TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:29

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:26

What’s the racist bit?

The suggestion that women who identify as muslim are less capable of choosing their own clothing than women who identify as christian or Jewish.
Apprently all Muslim women who chose to vail are forced to by their husbands and that is oppression but the goverment outlawing women's clothing choices is somehow less oppressive