To be Disturbed by this woman in a Burka? ......

[Gingefringe]

I saw a very strange event in Debenhams make-up counter this week-end which on reflection, I found very disturbing.
A woman in a full burka (including her eyes covered in thin veil) came up to the make-up counter with a man (presumably DH). The man then proceeded to ask about foundation for the woman and had a conversation with the sales assistant which rarely included the woman at all (apart from trying on a sample colour on her hand).
I felt so sorry for the poor woman - not only to be forced to wear this ridiculous veil but she wasn't allowed even to chose her own make-up!
I did give the man my best evil looks but he didn't seem to notice - perhaps because I was a woman!! I was too cowardly to say anything.

On the day that France bans the burka I wonder whether you would have said anything?

Yeah because eating the flesh of another human being is the same as covering you face in public???

gordy - Don't be ridiculous.

?..So if I cannot conform in France I cannot live in France...now that's not controlling is it?

SPOT ON.

When your in someones country you do what the government allows. You cannot make up your own rules as you go along.

You kiss a man in the street in Dubai you get arrested. [ i should know to my peril]

why is it ridiculous - you are banning people from expressing their beliefs - how is that EVER acceptable - ever ?

Muslims are the new Jews in Europe and I hate the oppression THEY face

Gordy, if a woman WANTS to wear a burkha, she should be able to. I have absolutely no problem with it.

I have worked in London for many years, and seen many women who are visiting, from the rich Arab states, shopping in Selfridges and Harrods, wearing their burkhas, and happily buying as many designer dresses and shoes as their personal shoppers could carry. I have seen them laughing and chatting in the coffee shops there. It is wrong to assume that ALL women who wear the burhka are oppressed.

but it is a fact where i live in the UK that a disproportional number of muslim women are victims of domestic violence. the domestic violence project here has been awarded extra funding for the last few years to help muslim women who are often oppressed. not always oppressed i agree but considerably more likely to be than a non muslim woman
i wish people would debate this instead of trying to be PC. i also wish muslim women who arent oppressed would speak out more about this - they repeatedly help behind the scenes but say they fear bringing their families into disrepute. hopefully that culture will change over time but i fear it will take a long time and will happen only if people are prepared to challenge this

But what if France IS YOUR COUNTRY? blimey you can French AND Muslim

If France is your country you still have to abide by the rules.

I am English and live in England I abide by the rules even if I dont like them.

Banning people from expressing their beliefs is acceptable when the expression of those beliefs has a detrimental effect on those around them.

There are many muslim women, who do not wear the burkha, who are victims of domestic violence. I do not disagree that many of those women are forced into silence because of their culture, and their families, particularly the men in their lives. The burkha has sod all to do with that.

"I am English and live in England I abide by the rules even if I dont like them"

Not everyone does though and I, for one, am proud that our history is full of people fighting against all kinds of oppression.

so if England introduced a law forcing you to wear a boob tube and mini skirt your happily comply - seriously if you blindly follow the rules regardless of the political meaning that brings them about you are a bit silly

Mumcetreplus - Do you have problems with English comprehension? What I said wasn't so hard to understand.

Cannibalism is a practice that is considered abhorrent in the UK. If you take it up, you won't be able to claim you are being oppressed because they don't let you eat whatever you want. You will have to go live somewhere where your new way of life is acceptable.

Similarly, France does not tolerate the mentality that says women and men should be segregated, that women should be kept hidden, robbed of their identity, their faces, and that men are feeble creatures who will go berserk with lust if they see a knee or an elbow. It is against who they are. So, just like the proverbial cannibal in the UK, the burqa-wearer should think of finding a place where her way of life is acceptable.

Tha Catholic Church has oppressed and abused many people through the centuries but we don;t ban nuns or priest from wearing their robes do we?

squeaky - I gather hotels provide rooms with obscured windows for Arab women. That disturbs me. (Have to admit I have no up to date information but this was certainly happening a decade ago. Find it objectionable that in the UK any woman can be made to stay in a room that she can't look out of. Shouldn't be an option.)

Cote the new law has NOTHING to do with women and men - it's actually about the French belief around religion and display of religious belief in public :)

burka impacts on job opportunities, integrating into society, making non muslim friends - ALL contribute to isolation and possibly dv
at no point did i say non muslim or non burka wearing muslim women do not experience dv
facts - not opinion - here show increase in oppression and dv

so if England introduced a law forcing you to wear a boob tube and mini skirt your happily comply

That is a pathetic comment.

I would be more concerned as to what may be underneath the burka, we are on high terrorist alert in the UK who knows what some people might be concealing under these outfits.

I work for the number 1 skincare company. It's a quiet common occurrence. I have also taken women into the ladies toilet to do a make over as they take there veil off. It's their culture and I respect that.

This single most disgusting thing I have experienced was when I worked in selfridges. I worked for an expensive clothing company who's concession was opposite laboutain. the lady loved a handbag and shoes that came to about £600. The husband refused to buy them for her as "he wanted her in laboutains as he buys his wife the best" she looked embarrassed and said she wanted those. He refused. Walked to the laboutains. Picked up a pair and got them in her size, he handed them to her and winked at me saying "he can buy his mrs the best" she didn't want them, she looked mortified and wouldn't even look me in the eye. He was much worse than any customer I have had. He owned her and was very proud of that fact

why is it pathetic - why - you are 100% supporting of the French gov dictating what people can wear :)

gordy - Pray tell, what is the French burqa ban about?

this thread would make me laugh if it wasn't so depressing - all muslims are women oppressing freedom hating terrorists - have you heard yourselves

replace the word MUSLIM with the word JEW or Black and ask yourselves how un racist you are being

I am so proud not to be forced to wear blinkers and get all my fact from the Daily Fail

Nobody said that, you dingbat.

Cotes I just told you - it's about the French view that religious views should be private and not on public display - and church and state should be seperate :)