Burka

[Robert]

What do folk think about the great burka bust-up? If I were a Moslem woman, I wouldn't wear one - how can you have a fag with one of those on?

[caz]

...or get a word in edgeways? That would be a disaster for most women.

I'll try one on and see.

Mumble mumble mmmph mumble mumble...

[Right, it's coming off again]

...and another thing...oh blast, hubby is telling me to stop yapping and come for a stiff G&T.

Love,

Caz
X

[Rubyretro]

cheaper than botox though...

[Robert]

Caz, you know very well that if they really can't talk in those things, they will communicate by semaphore or with an aldis lamp.

[Rubyretro]

Robert -I've always smoked 40 a day whilst wearing mine...it did once go up in flames at the 'Dog Races' though...

[claire]

What do folk think about the great burka bust-up? If I were a Moslem woman, I wouldn't wear one - how can you have a fag with one of those on?

In Qatar I used to see women sitting on the wall along the Corniche, niqab hanging on a piece of elastic round their neck, smoking a Davidoff. I think there are laws against that here.

[Robert]

Hi Ruby and Claire

I've seen them covered from head to toe, and at the bottom....they're wearing trainers. Kind of destroys the effect.

I certainly wouldn't ban the wearing of it in ordinary places like the street. It's up to them what they wear. I'm only surprised that there aren't a variety of colours and styles.

[belinda]

Hmm Burkas

I know let's recycle themYou could get at least two Boob Tubes and a Mini Skirt out of every one

It could be the new reality Tv sensation Pimp My Burka

[Limehouse]

In many cases, the wearing of the Burka is the woman's choice. It kind of gives them the opportunity to be judged for themselves in their own right and not for what they look like. It's a kind of freedom.

However, in other ways, the motive for wearing it is kind of disrespectful to men because it implies men cannot be trusted to see an attractive woman without desiring her.

There should be more education about the purpose and function of the Burka and women should wear it from choice. I am not totally in favour of a ban - but on the other hand, if a country decides they are not in keeping with that country's culture and ideology then I think they have the right to ban them - just as women walking the streets of some Muslim countries are required to cover themselves in keeping with the local culture and ideology.

[Phil H]

The husband of any woman who choses to wear a niqab or a burkha should also have to wear one in exactly the same situations as his wife.

That surely is the meaning of an equal and diverse society.

Phil

[Graham]

I wish my missus would wear a burka.

Graham

[brummie]

There should be more education about the purpose and function of the Burka and women should wear it from choice. I am not totally in favour of a ban - but on the other hand, if a country decides they are not in keeping with that country's culture and ideology then I think they have the right to ban them - just as women walking the streets of some Muslim countries are required to cover themselves in keeping with the local culture and ideology.

Surely the culture of most western countries is all about the freedom to choose, so a ban preventing women from wearing the burka if they choose to would be just as anti-cultural as a law requiring them to wear one.

It would be interseting to know why some women choose to wear one though since, although I don't claim to be an Islamic expert, muslims I know have said the Quran doesn't require women to be covered from head to foot merely to dress modestly.
If a woman apparently chooses to wear the burka is it entirely a free choice or the result of years of interpretation by male clerics?
Interestingly some major shopping complexes have bans in effect against 'hoodies' does the same apply to covering the face with a burka and would anti race laws allow it .

[belinda]

The husband of any woman who choses to wear a niqab or a burkha should also have to wear one in exactly the same situations as his wife.

That surely is the meaning of an equal and diverse society.

Phil

Well said.

Soapbox Time as a woman I find the Islamic religion particularly insulting.Islamic women are indoctrinated from birth to believe they have to wear these appalling garments.In some countries now it is not a choice it is law.Even foreign women visiting these countries are expected to follow the dress laws.In some of the more extreme countries it is against the law for a woman to show her face in public.

[Phil H]

Surely the culture of most western countries is all about the freedom to choose, so a ban preventing women from wearing the burka if they choose to would be just as anti-cultural as a law requiring them to wear one.

Surely the culture of British and "most western cultures" is founded on being able to see the open face of whomever one is talking to? To be able to look into their eyes, to see the honesty (or lack of it) there?

Coverings such as the burkha are an affront to women - would we tolerate forced marriages, human sacrifice, cruelty to animals if practised in the name of an oriental or other religeon? If not then we should not tolerate inequality - when that is being enforced on all other elements of society in terms of pay and rights.

Neither do I like the inference, touched on in another post, that I amd other men cannot look on a oman without impure thoughts, lust etc etc.

I don't particularly condone the French approach, but we need to be careful in regard to the precedent being set (expectations being raised) to the end that we come to have multiple legal systems (sharia law) etc. If you can have that, why not communities that can bring back hanging or practiise sexual harassment or prejudice against woman/gays etc?

I ask questions, I have no answers.

Phil

[Limehouse]

Phil, I did not mean men could not look at a woman without desire or lust, I meant the opposite. To me, aspect of wearing the Burka IMPLIes (ie suggests) that men cannot look at a woamn's face without desire and I was saying that this is unfair to men.

I beleive that the Burka is only unfair to women if it is forced onto them. If they wear it as a choice, then it is acceptable to me.