Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
User3456 · 06/04/2026 17:27

WhereYouLeftIt · 06/04/2026 16:04

I think this is what normalised face coverings rather than religious use.

I am old enough to remember when a balaclava or ski mask meant bank robbers or IRA, so I am all in favour of no face coverings - they still spark that old memory.

As for medical face masks - IIRC they protect everyone from the wearer, and offer very little protection to them; so I think a case could be made for dropping them too.

Show quote history

You are absolutely wrong about face masks not being protective. I can link lots of studies but this one gives a good overview. You need to inform yourself on this matter before making this argument. It doesn't sound like you have kept up to date with research around this.
What you are suggesting is discriminatory against disabled and clinically vulnerable people.
https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/news/comprehensive-review-confirms-masks-reduce-covid-19-transmission

Comprehensive review confirms mask effectiveness against respiratory infections, urges better design and policy support — Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford

New comprehensive review provides strong evidence that masks and respirators effectively reduce the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19, based on analysis of over 400 studies from multiple disciplines.

https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/news/comprehensive-review-confirms-masks-reduce-covid-19-transmission

Original poster
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:26

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 06/04/2026 17:14

What a vile racist thread. It couldn’t be any more thinly disguised if it tried.

ETA I’ve reported this thread so hopefully it’ll be gone soon.

Edited

What’s the racist bit?

OP posts:
Westfacing · 06/04/2026 17:26

I'm reminded of Reform's Sara Pochin's first question at PMQs wherein she asked Starmer when he was going to ban the burqa

Like it was a pressing issue in Runcorn!

luckylavender · 06/04/2026 17:24

Flamingojune · 06/04/2026 15:14

Yes being mugged by someone in a balaclava leaves little room for nuance eyes wise

Show quote history

Clearly a balaclava is not a niqab

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:23

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:18

You’re being very rude. I assumed you were joking when you asked about the possibility of your child being arrested for covering his face. This is about context . A wild winter’s walk is not the same as a horde of teenagers in balaclavas in a shopping precinct . In busy public spaces faces should not be covered .

My “stupidity” as you rudely put it - is not actually that stupid …
Several countries have some legislation along these lines . Indeed there is already some legislation to deal with face coverings. I’m proposing it should be extended.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-bill-2025-factsheets/crime-and-policing-bill-public-order-factsheet#:~:text=Current%20legislation%20gives%20police%20the%20power%20to,for%20the%20purpose%20of%20concealing%20their%20identity.

Show quote history

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

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 06/04/2026 17:23

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 16:21

If you're idea of "freedom" is women having their clothing choice outlawed by the goverment then I don't want it.
Do you seriously think the goverment taking away women's choice to choose their outfits is somehow making women less oppressed?

Edited
Show quote history

It's a group of men in government stopping a group of men ("cultural reasons" / "religion") from controlling women. What's the greater evil?

ginasevern · 06/04/2026 17:22

@OpheliaWasntMad "I DO NOT think niquab wearers are criminal- but I do think there is a chance they are victims of oppression. Obscuring your face makes you anonymous. I don’t think that’s a good thing."

Agree OP. Covering your face and only having your eyes visible (and sometimes not even those) is setting a barrier. The oppression doesn't just come from men either. It also comes from mothers who see the niqab or burqa as a status symbol or the lack thereof as a matter of extreme cultural shame.

Original poster
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:21

sunshinestar1986 · 06/04/2026 17:18

Repression of women?
And you get to speak for muslim women do you?

Show quote history

Do you get to speak for Muslim women?
Muslim women will have different views on this like all the rest of us

OP posts:
sunshinestar1986 · 06/04/2026 17:21

LadyWiddiothethird · 06/04/2026 16:25

I think the hijab and burqa should be banned in this country same as it is across a lot of Europe now.Couldn’t care less whether I am thought to be racist.

Yep
This is the colonial mindset.
How very backwards of you

sunshinestar1986 · 06/04/2026 17:18

Contrarymary30 · 06/04/2026 17:15

Yes , absolutely. Just like France did . What religious reason could there be for covering your face ? It doesn't make sense and is all about repression of women . Men don't cover their faces .

Repression of women?
And you get to speak for muslim women do you?

Original poster
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:18

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:10

Is that a no? Or did you not think about the climate before making this post? I guess even the geographically challenged have internet access 🙄 Funny how you won't actually answer the question though, almost as if you realise your stupidity in real time

Show quote history

You’re being very rude. I assumed you were joking when you asked about the possibility of your child being arrested for covering his face. This is about context . A wild winter’s walk is not the same as a horde of teenagers in balaclavas in a shopping precinct . In busy public spaces faces should not be covered .

My “stupidity” as you rudely put it - is not actually that stupid …
Several countries have some legislation along these lines . Indeed there is already some legislation to deal with face coverings. I’m proposing it should be extended.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-bill-2025-factsheets/crime-and-policing-bill-public-order-factsheet#:~:text=Current%20legislation%20gives%20police%20the%20power%20to,for%20the%20purpose%20of%20concealing%20their%20identity.

OP posts:
Westfacing · 06/04/2026 17:17

Contrarymary30 · 06/04/2026 17:15

Yes , absolutely. Just like France did . What religious reason could there be for covering your face ? It doesn't make sense and is all about repression of women . Men don't cover their faces .

But the OP is very concerned about balaclava wearers - 99% men I'd say!

Men do cover their faces

PandoraSocks · 06/04/2026 17:16

Contrarymary30 · 06/04/2026 17:15

Yes , absolutely. Just like France did . What religious reason could there be for covering your face ? It doesn't make sense and is all about repression of women . Men don't cover their faces .

If you read the thread I linked to, the OP answers these questions.

FleurDeFleur · 06/04/2026 17:16

Somnambule · 06/04/2026 14:59

Have you actually spent time with women in niqab? Although it's very uncommon where I live, from time to time I work alongside women in niqab and I honestly don't feel it creates a barrier at all. A huge amount of non-verbal communication happens through the eyes.

...but verbal communication happens through the mouth.

sunshinestar1986 · 06/04/2026 17:16

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.

🙄
Got anything else to worry about?

Contrarymary30 · 06/04/2026 17:15

Yes , absolutely. Just like France did . What religious reason could there be for covering your face ? It doesn't make sense and is all about repression of women . Men don't cover their faces .

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 06/04/2026 17:14

What a vile racist thread. It couldn’t be any more thinly disguised if it tried.

ETA I’ve reported this thread so hopefully it’ll be gone soon.

User3456 · 06/04/2026 17:13

I haven't RTFT but YAB very U.
I wear an FFP2 mask for health reasons.
What you are suggesting is massively albeist and would actually be discriminatory against disabled and clinically vulnerable people.
It's bad enough people don't have any regard for others as it is but to take away our only means of protecting ourselves from nasty infections would leave us unsafe in society.
It's not up to you to dictate what other people wear.
As long as people are behaving lawfully when they have their faces covered it's frankly none of your business, same as it's none of your business what type of shoes they wear or if they are wearing a hat.
If they are not behaving lawfully that's fine, arrest them. For their behaviour - not for their face covering.

Tonissister · 06/04/2026 17:12

Somnambule · 06/04/2026 14:59

Have you actually spent time with women in niqab? Although it's very uncommon where I live, from time to time I work alongside women in niqab and I honestly don't feel it creates a barrier at all. A huge amount of non-verbal communication happens through the eyes.

Well, it is known to be problematic for young kids to learn how to read emotions if teachers wear niqab and way harder for people with hearing disabilities who rely on lip reading.

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:10

OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:07

🤣

Show quote history

Is that a no? Or did you not think about the climate before making this post? I guess even the geographically challenged have internet access 🙄 Funny how you won't actually answer the question though, almost as if you realise your stupidity in real time

Westfacing · 06/04/2026 17:10

Nothungrycat · 06/04/2026 17:06

I've been to a couple of feminist events, where the protestors against us (held back by police) were mainly masked/balaclava-d. We weren't. And I have to say, it is really intimidating and frightening to have people yelling abuse at you from behind masks. It presumably does make them less easy to identify by the police. I'd be very keen to ban them but I can't imagine it will ever happen.

I can understand that would be very intimidating - but those balaclava-d arses would just resort to camo face-painting or similar disguise

Original poster
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:09

Usernamenotfound1 · 06/04/2026 16:57

so say you ban niquab’s.

now those women aren’t allowed in public or in the vicinity of non-related men because their culture requires them to be covered.

so your attempt to reduce isolation actually results in increased isolation.

then what?

Show quote history

If, as you suggest, some of these women are only allowed out if they cover their faces then there is a much bigger and more worrying problem to address.

”Culture” should not be used to defend practices which have a harmful effect on women.

OP posts:
plinkityplink · 06/04/2026 17:08

Somnambule · 06/04/2026 14:59

Have you actually spent time with women in niqab? Although it's very uncommon where I live, from time to time I work alongside women in niqab and I honestly don't feel it creates a barrier at all. A huge amount of non-verbal communication happens through the eyes.

And a huge number of people (me included) have hearing issues (not deaf though) and lip read.

I agree balaclavas should be banned from 1 April til 30 September. You simply don’t need them in this country and they are blatantly worn to intimidate.

Original poster
OpheliaWasntMad · 06/04/2026 17:07

TheCatSitterDM · 06/04/2026 17:05

@OpheliaWasntMad Does your proposed ban stop me putting my scarf over my nose in the icy cold winds?
My child also wears an adorable blue dog style balaclava hat with floppy brown ears, shall I just let his face freeze on the school run?

🤣

OP posts: