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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask how many times you have seen anyone wearing a niqab (full face veil revealing eyes) or burqa (full face veil with mesh cover for eyes)?

317 replies

Jane379 · 20/05/2026 17:18

I've seen recent talk on UK Reddit about banning them, and I think we should, for several reasons, but I also think in some ways banning is easy but actually integrating people leading a very conservative Muslim lifestyle is much harder, and should be the main discussion.
European countries that have banned found not many women wore them. What about here? Some estimates say 1%-2% of Muslim women, but we don't really know.

I live in S London in an area with quite a few Muslims and have only seen about 10 niqab wearers in my life. Most in more central areas. I've never seen anyone wearing a burqa.

How typical is this?

OP posts:
user1476613140 · 20/05/2026 17:29

None.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 20/05/2026 17:29

A few here and there.

cramptramp · 20/05/2026 17:28

I see them every day.

stargirl1701 · 20/05/2026 17:28

I have never seen it in the UK. I did see it in The Maldives.

hahabahbag · 20/05/2026 17:28

Hundreds of times, lived in multicultural area and one of my clients was a madrasah!

Spargaszezon · 20/05/2026 17:28

Daily

mumofoneAloneandwell · 20/05/2026 17:27

This is going to be deleted, and rightly so.

I dont care what someone looks like under their face coverings - nor under their face mask, under their helmet, under their wigs, under their make up

Live and let live - people can cover themselves however they choose 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

HobnobsChoice · 20/05/2026 17:27

A fair number. I work in Manchester and live in a neighbouring town with a high Muslim population. It's changed in the last 30 years as I never saw women in the town I live in wearing them. I also see teenage girls with them on too. I dislike it a lot but I also don't feel comfortable with banning it.

parkezvous · 20/05/2026 17:27

I see at least 1 person daily.

phoenixrosehere · 20/05/2026 17:27

I’ve only seen them worn in Central London when on Oxford Street but even saying that, it has been less than a handful
of times in a decade. I’m in Oxfordshire and see many women with a hijab but not a burqa or a niqab.

IsItBeesThoughLooshkin · 20/05/2026 17:26

More than I can count, especially when I lived in East London. It depends where you live.

Original poster
Jane379 · 20/05/2026 17:25

InfoSecInTheCity · 20/05/2026 17:22

I live in a city in the Midlands, so everyday I see multiple women wearing full Niqab or burka some with gloves too to ensure every mm of skin is covered. We are a very diverse city with a high population of Muslim residents and visitors.

Thanks, that's really sad. I feel like this is one of those issues where the answer can vary very drastically depending on area.

OP posts:
tiramisugelato · 20/05/2026 17:25

I've never seen anyone wearing either where I live.

thisishowidisappear · 20/05/2026 17:25

Loads everyday. Im unsure how i’d feel about a ban though. This is for some a woman’s identity.

NotTheOrdinary · 20/05/2026 17:24

Loads every day.

Pieceofpurplesky · 20/05/2026 17:23

Hardly any where I live and a small % if I go to predominantly Muslim areas. I think many people think a scarf is a niqab!

InfoSecInTheCity · 20/05/2026 17:22

I live in a city in the Midlands, so everyday I see multiple women wearing full Niqab or burka some with gloves too to ensure every mm of skin is covered. We are a very diverse city with a high population of Muslim residents and visitors.

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