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.

But you don't have to cover your face Body - you can if you want to but you don't have to - why is this okay for you but not anyone who happens to be Mulsim

That is the simple principle I support - I don't support anyone being forced, I don't support anyone being made to cover up or not - but I support people have a free choice to do so

If somebody told you you had to Body I would stand right by your side and fight your corner if you didn't want to

I am simply in support of women who free chose to

Beard / face mask......... Two different things.

and who on this thread gordy has said that the burka should be banned in the uk?

gordy do you honestly believe that all Muslim women and children have a choice?

oh it's probably in the same place where I said oppressing women was a grand idea and I was all for it

the stats on honour killings make me feel as though it is not unreasonable to believe that many Muslims do not see women as equal to men.

no really gordy, why are you getting offended on behalf of Muslim women when no one on this thread has said they would ban the burka?

Mishmash I have repeatedly said on this thread that, as with all other women in society, that there will be some women who don't have a choice. I have also stated again and again that this is wrong

what i do not do is leap from that to the idea that it means all women who cover up are forced to and no woman freely chooses to - because I know very able, very outspoken women who do just that

and i have repeatedly said there will be some women who do gordy but it hasn't stopped you from insisting that i believe ALL Muslim women are forced to do it

I apologise - obviously both you and Body are 100% in support of the Burka being worn by choice - my mistake

of course i 'support' it but i don't understand it. it's not something i would choose to do, particularly for the reason that my so-called lord wanted me to.

support it as far as if given the power, i wouldn't ban it, i mean. obviously i'm not generally in support of women or men feeling the need to hide themselves.

but if you aren't religious I think faith is a difficult concept

I was raised in faith and made a choice to not follow it as an adult so I kind of understand but I don't believe anymore

I do think people have a right to their faith and beliefs though - as long as they don't harm others

(and yes there could now follow a massive debate on the harm caused by organised religion but I am talking more about peoples right to just believe in God and quietly have faith)

gordy if five ladies chooseto wear it and five women hate it, it's just tough on the woman that hate it as long as those woman get the choice.

Do you not think that the women who choose to wear it re- enforce the social stigma attached to those who hate and want to escape it?

I feel the need to hide myself because I had 3 kids and I am 43 and fat - I don't have a bikini body, I haven't lost the baby weight and I am not a size 0 - but I blame the Daily Mail and Heat Magazine for that not God

"I think things changed after 9/11, noticeably, and wearing hijab/niqab seems to be more of a statement, and definitely more one that women are making by themselves, but that is just my perception.
Like it or not, the niqab has to be seen as a somewhat political statement in the current climate of Islamaphobia."

Agree with this - there has definitely been an upsurge. It worries me and I have friends from Muslim countries who are worried at what they see as the growing islamification of their countries.

I don't think they do but even if they DID that's not reason to stop them

Just support the 5 women who don't so they can continue to not wear it and tackle any pressure they feel

it's what was referred to as 'colonial feminism' and it's very damaging - the idea that western women can sweep in and save all the poor oppressed Muslim ones

It's not that at all.
I've grown up with equality. I have valued relationships with men. I am friends with homosexual men, socially and at work, I have grown up with lesbian friends too, some of whom have had families. This is freedom in the western world, it is fantastic, not perfect but something worth valuing.

To me, women covering themselves from head to toe is a political statement and I think it is regressive. I tolerate it, I am not a bigot, but I really do think that wearing the niquab does not further gender equality.

Further, muslim friends and acquaintances have found the expectations of the their parents very hard - a friend is in an arranged marriage and very unhappy as he had to end a relationship with a white british woman whom he loved very much, another friend has tried to kill herself a few times due to plans for arranged marriage, another is seeking a divorce after a few years of marriage, a friend self harmed extensively throughout a forced marriage and is still battling mental health problems as a result.

Not all 'choices' are free choices.

I do think people have a right to their faith and beliefs though - as long as they don't harm others

But it does harm others. If even one person is negatively effected by it, it needs to be stopped.

And that goes for all walks of ' faith'

Fancy I both a agree and disagree (This fence is comfy) I think enforced oppressive versions of Islam are frightening and should be resisted

But I also think, when any group is demonised, it tend to make them more insular and radical. Marginalise people and you turn them inward - and that can further the divide. That in turn allows for more extremism

Islamaphobia is making this worse

Bodygoingsouth "my issue is that even if women choose to wear faceand body covers in public they should not be allowed to in the UK as this is contrary to the UK support of women's equality in the work place and in public life."

Vampyre - are we reading the same thread - is this not a call to ban burkhas and niqab? I hate the burkha and don't really like the niqab. Just find it a bit worrying that people are trying to control what women wear, though would love to see some folk cover up a bit more TBH. I find some underdressed women much more offensive looking than those that choose to cover up.

which I said in the next part of my post

but what is the answer Mish ban faith? Ban opinion - because that can be harmful and oppressive as well - police peoples thoughts

Lots of things can be oppressive - far better to give people the ability to stand up to that than take away free will

next time you see someone wearing a niqab, stop them and ask them why they wear niqab. Trust me, it'll make their day

I'm a man. Would that really be welcomed?

I'm not a great one for talking to strangers, but if I were in a queue I might remark "this is slow isn't it" to the person behind me if they looked as though they might welcome it. If they smiled and gave other indications that they wanted to chat I might say more.

I would not speak to someone wearing a mask. How could I? The wearer might be horrified at having to speak to me. There are no visual cues.

So if the purpose is to prevent any contact with outsiders and make them feel uncomfortable then it's working wonderfully and should be continued.

If that wasn't the idea then it's time to rethink it.

gordy how would you help the 'five' if you had no access to them? Would you expect her to go against her family??

And your wrong about the social stigma

Gordy - I'm a massive fence sitter myself, it is very uncomfortable!