Ban the burka?

Also why has this post appeared at the same time of another post promoting reform?

Wasn't this recently proposed by a reform MP?

I think it's worth noting that pressure or encouragement in these communities to wear burkas is definitely not only coming from men. Aunties/sisters/mothers will be the ones setting examples and play a large part in encouraging women to carry on with tradition. That goes for things like the hijab as well as more decisive and dangerous practises like forced marriages and FGM. Little girls look up to their family members and generally will want to copy. That's true with just about every tradition or dynamic in the world. Telling women from these communities that they are being brainwashed or abused because of a choice they are making, and women in their circle are making, will only serve to dig their heels in.

This is such a non-issue. How many women have I seen in burkas in the past 10 years. One. I live in Manchester which is fairly multicultural.

I think women should be able to wear what they want. We all have different standards of modesty and that's fine.

An actual ban probably means some women never leaving the house; but let’s not kid ourselves burqa wearing is liberated. You see some pretty clear examples in East and West London where it is an artifact of public control over women, and communicated as such. I don’t regard it as religious dress, plenty of women who are Muslim do without it. It’s associated with regressive thinking about women, and perhaps rather than “banning” we might talk about why that’s a thing in the UK

Burka is already banned in places like a courtroom where you need to see the person is who they say they are.

Live and let live. No one’s asking for a helmet or a beekeeper’s suit ban.

Presumably grey tracksuit bottoms, a long-sleeved top and hair tied back but uncovered, is the only acceptable uniform. There'd still be fierce debate over whether it had been under or over washed though.

The law of unintended consequences.

I read on another platform that because France have banned it, there are now women who never go outside.

Is it your understanding women are ok
with it? Including countries where strict religious laws are imposed. What do you think of the link re Iran below?

Also, are we in some sort of time warp? Wasn't this a storm in a teacup a few years back? The question was asked "should burkas be banned"? and we decided "No". Weird to be having all the same arguments again 🤷‍♀️

Yes, for obvious reasons. Plenty of EU countries have already done this so it really isn’t that outrageous that we are discussing this

Women can't choose to wear hotpants in traditional Muslim countries, because many of those countries are intolerant. The UK is, for the most part, more tolerant. That's the difference. Tolerance, not burka vs non-burka. It's inherently un-British, to tell people what they can and can't wear.

Disliking things like those scrunch bum leggings and wanting to control what other women wear are two different things though.
Women don’t have to like everything other women do 🤷‍♀️
As for burkas/ niqab, I think many people see them as more than just a piece of clothing.

Absolutely agree!

On the money. I don’t want the state dictating what anyone can or can’t wear. That’s the start of a very slippery slope. The fact that this was proposed by Reform’s latest and only female MP tells me all I want to know.

i think it is an act of terrorism against women and should be banned as such

Do you really think it is about wanting to control women? Have you ever had a burqa on?

It always surprises me how many women on here want to control how other women dress. Your leggings are too far up your arse, your bikini is too small, now it's a problem with how much of their body women cover up.

Supposedly so worried that men are forcing women to cover up that they would like to force women to do what they want instead. I wonder how many of the women here who are so keen to 'liberate' burqa wearers have ever actually bothered to speak to someone wearing one and ask them if they want to be forced to be 'liberated'.

This control is tough to see.

I would be very happy if they do the ban but they will never in this country.

Hmmm. I don’t know. I’m an old fashioned, rural type. I tend to work in the basis of kindness, respect and choice.

I would never rock up to church in a thong here. I would never pick my children up in pyjamas.

i tend to stick to leggings and a hoodie.

if I went abroad, I tend to observe the culture and respect that. So shoes off if requested, no swimwear if requested. Covered arms if requested.

for the UK, there is NO requirement to wear a burka. I agree with those saying in a public place that becomes difficult, as does a balaclava. Or a kilt. Or whatever.

I think people as a whole need to be more realistic and respectful of the society in which they reside.

Who is telling women to expose their skin, body and hair, otherwise they’d be punished? We’re talking about face coverings.

I didn’t say I agree with banning the burka, I said it is a women’s rights issue. It depends on why the woman is wearing it though. I think it’s a slippery slope if governments start to ban religious clothing or customs.

Editing to add - 6.5% of the UK’s population are Muslim so roughly 3% women. How many of them actually wear burkas?? Is this really a key issue or are Reform making it one for headlines?

That’s my feeling too.
I grew up in an area with a large Muslim population.
Back then (90s) I saw plenty of women wearing simple hijabs (often in combination with fairly Western clothing), but never niqabs, and never head coverings on school girls. Nowadays on the school run (primary), I see several women with full face covering and a couple of girls aged 9 or 10 in hijabs.