so UKIP want to ban the burkha...

[rosiejoy]

I thought twice about posting this, didnt want to give more attention than necessary to such petty spiteful behaviour.

But then realised its important people know this is being said.

No surprises its a daily mail link

ukip are a fuck all party.

Statements like this are designed to draw attention to themselves.

I like to think of them as a troll in the democratic system.

It was in the Times this morning as well.

I can't see it being banned, whatever your opinion either way.

Sadly us discussing this now is giving them what they want....

how stupid, we live in a free country we can wear buckets on our head if we want to

didn't someone in the Times at the weekend point out that it's a bit rich of UKIP to start going on about women's rights....

I love TheDevil's description of them as political trolls....

I know, I know TDWP, that was what I thought too so really didnt know if I should post this.

I dont believe for one moment it will happen, but I suppose I feel uncomfortable about a lot of attitudes which seem to be growing momentum and would rather that people were discussing it than ignoring it until it's too late

there was a massive thread on the niqab recently

I don't really know anything about UKIP except I vaguely think they're anti-Europe. Are they like the BNP?

What southeastastra says.

From the Times article:

"They claim that the burka marginalises women. This is a new concern for UKIP. It is, after all, the party of Godfrey Bloom, the MEP who says that ?any small businessman or woman who employs a woman of child-bearing age needs their head examined?. Perhaps Mr Bloom, who thinks that women do not clean behind the fridge enough, worries that their burkas are getting in the way."

People vote for UKIP in European elections but not real elections, because there are much more important issues around than the EU.

Therefore, UKIP need to get themselves in the media any way they can. This is just them trying to expand beyond Europe for the election.

They won't win any seats, I wouldn't worry about it.

all these comments have been refreshing. I read the Mail online but am definately not a fan of their viewpoint or politics. The readers comments on the DM worried me that everyone is a fully paid up BNP member. I don't like the Burka and feel too may women have no choice but to wear it. Saying that, how can you ban someone's choice of clothing when you think of what many other people choose to wear, tatoo, pierce etc.

"They won't win any seats, I wouldn't worry about it. "

Now if I were a betting woman I wouldn't put money on that.

They will win at least one. Buckinghamshire. Nigel Ferage against Bercow (the man even the conservatives can't stand and secretly hope he loses his seat).

New speaker anyone?

"?any small businessman or woman who employs a woman of child-bearing age needs their head examined?. "

I haven't read his comments but logistically and financially he is spot on (oh yes, go on, roast me) if you look at legislation behind the employment for small businesses they really are in a tight spot when one of their employees is off sick (personally, or for their children ) or when they become pregnant and they need to keep the job open.

For a small business every employee is a valuable asset and to lose one puts a hardship of the rest of the employees, for bigger companies the loss (both physical and finacial) can be offset.

Whilst the comment seems both inappropriate and sexest, it's actually quite true, ask any small business what kind of a burden it puts on them.

Banning the burkha is impractical and just gives the fanatics something to jump up and down about. However, at the same time I do think that wearing it marginalises British muslim women in that it limits their communication with other people (to clarify I am talking about "only eyes" showing, and also limits physical movement.

It's interesting that liberals defend the wearing of the burkha which in itself is based on fairly illiberal concepts and hard to defend as a feminist.

If your daughter asks you why muslim women wear burkhas what do you say?

Also, wearing a burkha is not a requirement of Islam. The full covering came about more as a practical dress for Bedouin people. In many muslim countries, women do not cover their faces, and in fact, until the 1970's, women in Afghanistan did not cover their heads.

I agree that everyone can wear what they like, but you cannot complain if wearing what you like means people react to you in a certain way.

but then if your judging someone for wearing aburka then are you going to judge someone because they wear goth clothes, shave their hair?.
Becuase when thins went bad for me recenly let me tell you it was the goth couple down the road that come sat with me and my dasughters turkish godfather and helped me leave not any of my so called respectable neighbours aand i aim to teach my ds to never judge anyone on their looks/atire

I agree with Arctic Fox, pretty much word for word.

might be a time to open discussions about people making differnt choices , ie as some catholics choose to wear a cross all the time or a Jew wear yarmulkes and that some might wear all time others might not

atlantis, I know several fathers who have had a lot of time off to look after sick or disabled children: does that mean a small business should also be wary of employing men?

You can't wear "whatever you want" in the Uk.

If you walked around naked - or even topless - you would probably be arrested. I eblieve the naked rambler has recently been jailed (heard something on the radio; haven't got time to post a link).

Try wearing a white robe with a pointy hood and see what happens. Or a nazi uniform.

Try going into a bank wearing a motorcycle helmet - or even paying for petrol.

I have mixed feelings about the wearing of the burkha or niqab in the UK. But I don't accept that people can wear "whatever they want" in the UK, because that simply isn't the case.