Women arrested for wearing burqas in France... what do you think?

[steamedtreaclesponge]

Here

I'm not really sure what I think about all this. On the one hand the veil is used as a tool of oppression in many countries, and I'm generally against it on the grounds that if men can't control their lust at seeing women's faces, they should stay inside, rather than making women cover up.

But then, it doesn't sit right with me that women who wear it out of choice are being arrested. Or is it comparable to the choice to become a stripper, in that it may be an OK and not-so-harmful choice to make for the person doing it, but is something that harms other women by encouraging anti-feminist or mysogynistic attitudes?

I'd welcome some more informed views on this...

Yes, but we can't legislate against everything that results in women capitualting to peer pressure and doing bad things. And if Burqua wearing is singled out over other anti-woen habits then it is simply anti-moslem discrimnation.

French muslims suffer extreme racism and discrimination. The Le Penn vote isn't without it's effeects in the every day lives of Algerians in Paris and Marseille. Whatever many women think, many muslim woen wear hijab as a mark of thier muslim identity. As a protest against those who are anti North Africans. Hijab wearing increased as soon as the french tried to ban it in schools.

It's reasonable for anyone, wearing any kind of face covering (including teenagers in fancy dress masks or men in cycle helmets) to remove face coverings for passport control / security checkes etc, but iniquitous and uneccessary to make special provision against a niquab in this respect.

The face and its expressions are so important. I am not comfortable conversing with somone if you cannot see their face. You may as well be talking to a wall. It is part of being human being able to smile and laugh with somone and share their emotions not cover them up

Women who wear burkhas (sp?) do so because they do not want any men other than their immediate family to see their faces.

Although I don't personally agree with the concept of the burka, surely this new law will oppress these women further? If they can't wear their veils outside then I imagine many will be forced to stay inside by husbands/fathers; never being "allowed" to be seen in public.

If their beliefs are so strong as to wear a burkha in the first place, they will not change because the government tells them it is "wrong". These women have effectively been placed under house arrest, and I think that is horrific in a supposedly free country such as France.

I don't have to agree with the wearing of the niqab to disagree with the French legislation. I disagree with both.

As far as I can see, the state is 'protecting' women from being told what to wear by... err... telling them what to wear.

Funding targeted support for women who are victims of abuse within the muslim community would seem like a better option if this were really about oppression.

I think it's very important to see someone's face.

I personally find them oppressive. I know it is completely different, but you never see a muslim man in a burka??!!

I have been to two muslim countries, Turkey and Tunisia, and have only ever seen women wearing the hijab. However I have seen women in the burka in East London. Presumably these women are from different countries to Turkey and Tunisia. It seems to me, that it is cultural rather than religious.

slhilly "bemybebe, I'd be interested to know what you think the "very real problem" is that's being solved?"

Widespread islamic view of women as substandard to men human beings. The men are not required to wear this piece of clothing. The French are not going to solve this problem by banning burkas. Unfortunately.

supersalstrawberry there are universal values (such as equality of sexes) that this country generally subscribes to which is not accepted by all. those who reject equality of sexes often give their "culture" as the reason to continue to discriminate against their women. i find it unacceptable. i make no excuses for my distaste for those cultures.

computermouse burka/niqab/etc is not the matter of personal preference tough. it is a statement.

...(missed a sentence) it is a statement and not always by the burka/etc wearer.

Agree SGM- they very fact that a man can be punished for his wife wearing a niqab supposes that a (muslim) woman is incapable of free choice, and reinforces the idea that she is her husband's possession.

'People shouldnt dress according to someone elses dictates should they?'

I think this is about culture. I think the French government is saying that people should dress in a way that conforms to French culture. They seem to be saying that they are not in favour of multiculturalism.

If the uk starts doing this I shall start wearing a burka. I will make my damned point that nobody should tell me what to where.

Me too, Colditz.

computermouse - don't you think that this burka/niqab ban discussion is akin to prostitution/porn ban discussions. is it a real choice, are women willing participants of this activity and does banning actually work. everyone has their views and they are entitled to them. there are no easy answers either. i absolutely hear what you are saying and i agree that the state should not interfere, but i also think that that the practice of brainwashing someone into believing that unless they wear burka/etc they are somehow a lesser muslim (this is after telling them they are a lesser human by being a woman and should listen to the husband) is repulsive.

colditz you are easy to manipulate, ah?

Bit late for that, claig. Multiculturalism arrived in France years ago. Although I agree, the govt are sending a very clear, if misguided, message.

My guess is that they would be banning crosses in public schools. Not sure about the other symbols.

Remember Cameron's and Merkel's recent speeches on multiculturalism. The French have always had a different philosophy to our view of multiculturalism. I think the French aim for a monoculture of Frenchness, they see all their citizens as French, rather than being parts of multi cultures.