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Original poster

So banning the Burka - freeing women from opression or taking away free choice...?

557 replies

Portoeufino · 09/04/2010 20:23

I read that in Belgium there is a draft bill to ban burkas and also the niqab.

As they put it " There is nothing in Islam or the Koran about the burka. It has become an institution of intimidation and is a sign of submission of women. A civilized society cannot accept the imprisonment of women."

They then talk of "matters of public safety" - is that implying that if you wear a burka is it therefore likely you might have it stuffed with explosives? Or if you cover your face, then there are security issues connected with that?

I have to admit I am very ignorant about all this. DO women only wear this clothing because they are opressed? Do they choose to? What happens if it is banned? Are women freed, or will they end up forbidden from leaving the house?

I am very interested to learn and understand more about this.

OP posts:
BelleDameSansMerci · 10/04/2010 20:19

I live in West Yorkshire and I've never seen anyone in a bukha/burqa and, to be honest, I don't even see that many in a niqab. Which, considering the number of Muslims in this area, probably speaks volumes...

gorionine · 10/04/2010 20:06

Same here Riven.

mumblechum · 10/04/2010 20:05

I see a lot of Niqabs in High Wycombe.

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 20:03

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mumblechum · 10/04/2010 20:02

I've seen quite a few, admittedly almost always in Heathrow.

gorionine · 10/04/2010 20:00

By the way, has anyone ever seen a woman actually wearing one in England or Europe for that matter, because I never ever have myself.

gorionine · 10/04/2010 19:58

here

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:57

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gorionine · 10/04/2010 19:56

I found a beige Burka on amazone! I thought they just sold books!

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:40

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BelleDameSansMerci · 10/04/2010 19:38

Sob! I just cancelled my subscription to Vogue...

I've been buying it for over 20 years but have realised that the fashion loop back to the 80s has taken me back to when I first started buying it.

I'm 44, I don't care what 17 year olds are wearing any more. Unless it's a burkha, of course

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:27

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purits · 10/04/2010 19:26

"everything in the window was beige."

I thought beige was the preserve of OAPs.

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:21

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purits · 10/04/2010 19:19

"ah, but is fashion, and its 'bible' Vogue, the new religion?"

Not in my world. I have no desire to spend silly amounts of money on this year's must-have (which is invariably a colour or shape that doesn't actually suit me) only to discard it as passé the next year.
I'm sure that fashion creates lots of jobs and keeps the economy ticking over but it can do it without me.

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:09

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BelleDameSansMerci · 10/04/2010 19:08

Riven, I am proud to call myself a feminist but what I mean by it is that I believe that all people should be treated and valued equally under the law and within their culture.

That's it for me - nothing to do with looking down my nose at SAHM (I do work full time but I find full time childcare much harder work than my very stressy job); not to do with being like a man (frankly, why would I want to?); and not to do with making men inferior or lesser (although, if I'm really honest, I do think that women are "better" than men but I try to be even handed in my outlook).

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:05

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purits · 10/04/2010 19:04

"I do know the Bible urges women to dress modestly too. Do they for men?"

No idea! I don't get my fashion advice from religious tracts.

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 19:02

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BelleDameSansMerci · 10/04/2010 18:58

purits more likely because the countries that consider themselves to be Muslim states are run along the same old "men in charge" misogynist lines and hold all the power. This is true all over the world. Those who hold the power, whatever their religion or politics, want to change things to create a more equal society...

sarah293 · 10/04/2010 18:57

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littleducks · 10/04/2010 18:53

Yes, islam has a Xenia explains a system of 'prenuptial agreements' where prior to marriage a woman can state 'conditions' on the marriage, like she wants to work/study/stay in the same town as her parents/have a cleaner or nanny etc. These conditions are then binding.

purits · 10/04/2010 18:51

"there's no country that is actually run on Quranic lines."

Why is that then, after all these centuries. Because it doesn't actually work in practice maybe?

Xenia · 10/04/2010 18:48

And all those rules are very very sexist and will die a death as we all know. Also most muslims don't live in countries with those rules thankfully as the rule of law so women and men have the legal rights of the country in which they choose to live. A high earning British muslim businesswoman on divorce would have to pay her husband whatever English law required whatever the Koran or rules supposedly made under it might say.

Women can although plenty are stupid enough not to do so, go to their mosque before marriage and get rights agreed in writing to cover a divorce and various other matters. More should do so.

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