AIBU to think face coverings in public should be banned?

[OpheliaWasntMad]

Should all types of face covering in public be banned? I think they should. Mainly I’m concerned that people in balaclavas and face coverings are shoplifting and stealing phones etc with impunity.
People with balaclavas on marches look threatening and sinister.
Women with niqabs create a barrier between themselves and others as it’s hard to form connections if you can’t see someone’s facial expressions.
I think all face covering should be banned. It contributes to a society that feels more unsafe and divided.

...and nuns

Citation needed.

What an absolutely idiotic idea. It's like disabled people don't exist to you people. What about people who can't go out without a mask because an infection could quite literally kill them? Currently dealing with this now with a family member who has leukemia

Are hoodies (the garments, not the people who wear them) still banned in Bluewater shopping centre?

Hug a hoodie!

Except this isn't a middle Eastern country- we already have laws that prosecute coercive control (like forcing a woman to vail her face against her wishes).
The goverment bringing in laws to control how women dress under the guise of stopping men controlling how women dress is a ludicrous suggestion

Most of the foreheads in my social circle no longer have the ability to convey any information or cues.

Would you ban Botox as well?

At least 24 countries have placed some restrictions around the wearing of full-face coverings in public,( although in most cases it applies only in public buildings.) The countries who have banned face coverings include liberal democracies and dictatorships, Muslim-dominated and non Muslim-dominated countries. They are: Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, China, Denmark, France , Latvian, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Gabon, Norway, Turkey , Sri Lanka , Uzbekistan, Tunisian…. Amongst others …

So I don’t understand the accusations that this is a “ ludicrous” or “racist” suggestion .

😂

For those who keep insinuating that my post is stupid and racist -
A full list of countries here of who banned face covering
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48092641

There's some very little ones near me all covered up. It doesn't feel right.

I think it's patronising to say they are being repressed when plenty like it.
Why are you commenting on what women choose to wear?

It's very difficult to have conversation when you rely on lip reading though

Lol you might for the pink fluffy balaclava. Crimes against fashion

Which culture requires the niqab? Headcovering is a thing but the niqab?

You think men need niqab to control women.
Let me tell you,
I work in women refuges.
2 women are killed each week in the UK by a partner or ex partner.
The vast majority being white British women.
Why don't you figure out how to protect these women and worry about them?
Your concern is surely misplaced.
Funny how you jump from this being a security issue, to a concern for their safety issue
Pick one 🙄

No - I don’t have to pick one - both concern for safety of women and concern about general lawlessness in the streets are both valid reasons to want to ban face coverings. I don’t have to choose one …

And I have never said men need the niqab in order to control women… I think it should be banned because it has the potential to hide abuse and isolate the wearer . It is not a religious requirement. Many Muslim countries have banned the niquab .

It’s been banned in several countries- including Muslim countries. There are many reasons for this .

The alternative is doing the pick up looking like voldemort because my nose froze off 😂

If I listed a bunch of countries were a face covering is mandatory would you suddenly think it was a good idea to enforce that here? It's giving "If everyone else jumped off the bridge"

People have explained to you over and over why your post is racist and poorly thought out. Earlier, you said I could wear a scarf over my nose in a crowded school playground even though that goes against you entire OP. When I pushed you for more information on what would and would not be exempt of this rule, you said you didn't know. Now youre acting suprised when people call your idea stupid.

If you seriously can't understand why a bunch of us dont agree, why dont you read the comments were we explain to you why we dont agree instead of linking articles about other countries as if that has any baring on the UK

At my workplace, hoodies cannot be worn up, for safeguarding / security reasons, but full face coverings and niqabs are worn (no policy, except in exams for example, the face under a niqab has to shown to a female staff member). It doesn’t really make sense and it makes it harder to enforce the no hoodies up rule, if fully-covered faces are allowed.

We are getting more students wearing niqabs every year, although still only a few. I find it alienating / intimidating / sad / rude / oppressive when someone chooses (or is coerced) to fully cover their face. I find the creep of this trend alarming, especially as we have the context of forced covering in Afghanistan.

Special treatment has been asked for by women wearing niqab, e.g. own exam room, invigilated by a female, so they could unveil in room as they overheat in their niqab.

How is my post racist? That’s a pathetic way to shut down a conversation.
You’ve misrepresented my points throughout.
You’re entitled to your views as I am entitled to mine but I haven’t misrepresented or misquoted you or called you offensive names …
Not sure why you and your cute “pink fluffy balaclava” needed to be so offensive and aggressive. There are two sides to this.

It’s completely relevant that 24 other countries have banned face coverings - both Muslim and non Muslim countries. Are all those countries stupid and “racist” ?

Arguably wearing a cap and sunglasses hides your identity pretty well, so you want that banned too? I will often run with a thin snood over the bottom part of my face when it’s really cold, should I expect to be arrested for that?

I don’t think face coverings should be banned but I do think shops should have the right to ban entry to people with their faces covered, be that balaclavas or niqabs.
When I see a woman in a niqab, I always assume that it’s a relationship with a degree of coercive control. I do find it hard to believe that women would actually want to dress this way. I don’t know any Muslims so that may be just my own biases.
What I really, really hate is seeing pre pubescent children in headscarves, sometimes children as young as 4. It bothers me no end when I see it. I’d probably ban that too.

Total nonsense. I don't remember ever seeing someone wandering about in a balaclava 🙄 This is thinly and badly veiled racism no matter how much the attempt to cover it up is made.

I don’t know where you live but gangs with their faces covered are a common sight where I live .
Look up about the recent rioting in Clapham …

Another pathetic “racism” accusation…
Wearing the niquab has absolutely nothing to do with race or religion. It is a choice . ( sometimes a choice made by a coercive partner)