aibu to feel slightly on edge when I come across women in the full black burka?

[caroleharolde]

I just always feel slightly threatened, I know the vast majority of Muslims are lovely nonviolent people but.just this sight always unnerve me. Be honest, who hadn't felt a bit uncomfortable when passing by a huddle of the burqa wearers? Not trying to be racist, I'd feel the same if it were Christians or Jews or any other religion wearing it.

The burka worn by afghan women from when the Taliban took over is very restrictive, it is meant to be as men and women were under total control of the Taliban

it is a form of total control, head movement restricted so you could see where a woman or girl was looking men had to grow their beards a certain length if clean shaven they were publicly beaten a terribly cruel regime

It is pointless comparing the Taliban regime to other Muslims as there rules are as alien to them as they are to us

I think it's our duty to other women to reflect our dislike of totally covering up women's bodies and faces by our laws.

and fwiw i don't think women were seen as equal to men by whoever put together the bible either.

Women who wear the niqab, do not wear it for their husbands, they wear it for themselves. Seriously, give Muslim women some credit!

does that apply to Nuns as well ? Ban habits - let them wear cocktail frocks

why do they wear it then indigo? let's hear some insight.

read the thread vampy

or do some research as to why some women choose to wear a niqab

i have commented on why i think it is already freudian so perhaps take your own advice re reading the thread?

I think women covering up completely in these country bars them integrating

Yes it does - but then, that's exactly what some community leaders appear to want, sadly

"as far as i know, the qur'an instructs men and women to dress modestly and this is many muslims' interpretation of this. funny though, that you rarely see men covered from head to toe."

I am nervous if I see someone with face covered up. It's not racist, I feel the same if I see youths covering their faces in scarfs or hoodies. If people started wearing balaclavas on public transport it would also scare me.

you asked why they choose to

I pointed you in the right direction

I have read your comments

peaceful yes lovely however no where have you addressed the rights of those women who do not want to wear the burka but are required to at risk arrest, intimidation or worse

body once again are we talking about women in the Uk or in other countries? It is up to people living in those countries to change the laws they don't agree with not you and not me. Just because women don't have the choice there doesn't mean they shouldn't have the choice here in a country that gives every other woman the right to dress as she pleases. Some women are forced to have terminate pregnancies through similar pressures in some countries would you argue because that happens to some people all women should not have the right to terminate a pregnancy?

poster JimmyChooChoo I have just finished reading the whole thread and wanted to say that I wholeheartedly agree with your posts upthread. Intelligent comments and well done for not raising to the nit picking by some posters. Too tired to contribute but thanks for your thoughts.

well that's what i know freudian so why do you think they are so fond of covering up?

Hard for women to make changes in countries where they're not even allowed to vote though isn't it Peaceful?

very few nuns now do wear full habits but as I have repeatedly said I think all religions have been formed to give the leaders wealth or power, usually both, and to control and suppress the followers.

the burka is a ridiculous outfit as is,in my opinion,the almost as covering niqab and the clothes often worn by travellers to weddings.

however the point is not just choice really it's the fact that in coveting her face and body women are seen as a mass of homogenised beings, no personality, no individuality, nothing just a covered up body.

I know many women who dress conservatively and modestly you don't need to suppress the whole sex to do

Vampyre the Quran verses speak specifically about MUSLIM women dressing modestly because modesty is seen as a virtue in itself not a means to prevent rape. Hijab and niqab for many muslim women are seen as a religious symbol. To say I am a muslim woman and I am proud just like a turban or a skull cap or a crucifix would be a religious symbol of another faith. You and many posters are imposing your own preconceptions from your cultural experience and history to define what niqab means but you don't have the right to do that. Only those who wear it can say what it means to them to wear it.

peaceful you mean a revolution then as women can't vote? and also you don't really care about other women in other countries.

because for them it is important that is the choice they are making to follow their religious path (for those that make a choice, well aware that is not always the case)

Nancy which country is that Saudi?

Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

x post nancy

i accept that many Muslim women wear them for those reasons peaceful, however, i also believe that many do to meet the approval of their families or because they don't want to be seen and i don't think feeling the need to cover up is particularly ideal.

I think if you start from the premise that all Muslim women are oppressed, scared little flowers then you are always going to think they are forced into wearing what they wear

I hardly need to point out that this view of one section of women based solely on the god they believe in is equally oppressive and dis empowering and not actually true

Muslim women are like the rest of us - but Muslim - that is it - some are fiesty, some are quiet some are oppressed some are happy etc etc

I know actual Muslim women - this is a good starting point for having opinions on them

some posters here are continually ignoring or patronising the posts here by actual Muslim women - is that not oppressive

It helps no one to make sweeping assumptions about one group in society - and make them all pathetic and weak in your collective minds

Chapter 33, Verse 59: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons: that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested.

Chapter 24, Verses 30-31: Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof.

and these indicate to me that they are meant to be worn to prevent unwanted attention.