To think banning the burka

[hairytriangle]

Is a waste of time? If people want to wear it then they will. Let them be!

er, twt, isn't making a clothing illegal kind of against personal choice?

What is this "personal choice" rationale all about?

I was walking through a hot sticky Meadowhall (shopping mall) last night. Most women had chosen to wear something light. But I passed a lady wearing a burka and the slits in the garment for eyes were so narrow I couldn't even see her eyes.

Why had see chosen to dress like that. On one level it struck me as sinister and anti-social, and on another inappropriate for the weather.

Riven - I'd like to know why she did make that choice. I thought about asking her but she didn't look approachable - infact I anticipated she might react with hostility or paranoia if I attempted to make conversation. That is the impression women in burkas give to me - whether it's true or not.

I'm nosy and concerned all in one. I like to talk to people when I'm shopping - in a queue or cafe - anywhere. I've talked to goths and punks and commented on their great make-up, but I've never talked to a woman in a Burka. I would like to, but I never imagine they'd be interested in talking to me.

i think the vast majority of women in niqab if you talk to them, are okay to talk to you they wouldnt mind at all. presuming you ask in a polite way. also its okay for all weathers, cos the abayahs or jilbabs that we wear are loose fitting and loose clothes are more suited to hot weather so its actually okay

I have dressed as a Gothic all my life before my children, just thought I would add perspective as people are using this as a argument.

I have been refused access in shop if my hood is up and my face is covered by make-up quite frequently, however I see women with Niqab in these same shops, I assume it is because people are to scared of being labeled a racist if they ask them to remove it like I have been asked.

People were quite often afraid to come and talk to me, so I guess it is the same thing bearing that in mind I have often gone to talk to women in niqab without any problems.

I personally think it should have the same rules as any other face covering garment not in high security areas with shops being able to ask for it to be removed. I also would not go to work dressed up in full gothic clothing I always toned it down and stuck to the dress regulations of my workplace but that is my choice. I don't think it should have a blanket ban.

.."several people have said they wear the facemask to please God."

I've got to ask though, is that taking a good thing too far? Sometimes we think we're hearing from God and think God is saying things that He might not be saying at all.

My God wants me to be spiritual but not excessive about it and lose all common sense. How are we doing God's work if we're just floating around being spiritual and ignoring the ordinary aspects of life - aspects like ..being friendly and smiling.

You don't have to be weird to be religious and so spiritual that people don't know how to talk and relate to you.

... still I think this "God" justification could be a red herring. I think there's more to it.

The whole pro-niqab argument of 'it's so liberating to not have to worry about hair or make-up or competing for men's attention' get's right up my nose. It's is SOOOOO patronising to non-niqab wearing women as the implication is that that's all we do - worry about hair, make-up and making men like us [simper]. Yes, what man-mad vain twats we all are. Thanks.

What a load of cods. If you don't want to style your hair or wear make-up, just don't. And don't assume that women who do wear a bit of make-up or like nice clothes are doing it to impress men - we can see from earlier comments about the wildly fashionable dress of veiled women when just with other women, that women liking fashion has very little to do with impressing men.

And yes, it can be annoying that with my face (and hair, etc) on display some rude men feel the need to make comments, or give me unwelcome attention, but I don't feel withdrawing from the world is the answer.

If you want to wear the full veil as a religious sacrifice, I kind of get it a bit, as I was raised Catholic and went through the whole 'I want to be a nun' phase. But don't make comments that imply that all women not covering their faces are shallow, vain, looks-obsessed, judgemental and desperate to please men. We're mostly just normal people wearing practical clothes, getting on with our lives.

You know this is 13 years old right?

EDIT Ffs ZOMBIE!!

I think men shouldn't be allowed to walk around topless in the summer. But they do.

Can we just let women wear what they want. No-one picks at men when they wear what they want, whether it's topless, string vest or a dress etc