Following the ruling today in the UK that a muslim woman has to lift her veil only when giving evidence in court, I listened to the debate on BBC Asian Network then thought about clothes associated with religion. The woman is due to stand trial accused of intimidating a witness, so it’s not exactly a trivial matter. Much has been spoken about the right to live according to one’s religion and opinion seems to be divided as to whether or not muslim women should wear veils in public. As far as the court case is concerned, it was right that her face be visible when she gives evidence, but the judge ought to have gone further and said her reactions to witnesses’ evidence should also be visible to the lawyers, judge and jury.
Looking at the social aspect, given that racism can begin with a failure to integrate, and add to that the gender inequality in religion generally, I feel strongly that women should be made to lift their veil when in public. This is as much about individual freedom as it is a security issue. Much is to be said for France’s secular approach and the banning of the veil in public places but France can be racist too, particularly towards immigrants so I’m not entirely sure of the motives behind its move.
On another note, I have seen women lift the niqab to eat in a restaurant so I don't see how this can be as sensitive a religious issue as is sometimes claimed.
I am also against Sikhs being allowed to wear turbans instead of crash helmets while riding a motorcycle. Turbans don’t provide anything near the same amount of protection as a helmet does, so here it should be a case of fitting in with what everybody else has to do. However, a doctor I know said that after an accident, all a helmet does is hold a broken skull together until the biker arrives in hospital. I have no idea if this is true or not and the comment should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. (Ordinary kitchen brand will do. It doesn't have to be the fancy Maldon type).
But of all the religious clothing used to differentiate individuals, my overriding objection is to the veil, which is used to mentally imprison women. Islam is one of many religions that need to be hauled into the 21st century, with gender equality for its followers the first principle.
Looking at the social aspect, given that racism can begin with a failure to integrate, and add to that the gender inequality in religion generally, I feel strongly that women should be made to lift their veil when in public. This is as much about individual freedom as it is a security issue. Much is to be said for France’s secular approach and the banning of the veil in public places but France can be racist too, particularly towards immigrants so I’m not entirely sure of the motives behind its move.
On another note, I have seen women lift the niqab to eat in a restaurant so I don't see how this can be as sensitive a religious issue as is sometimes claimed.
I am also against Sikhs being allowed to wear turbans instead of crash helmets while riding a motorcycle. Turbans don’t provide anything near the same amount of protection as a helmet does, so here it should be a case of fitting in with what everybody else has to do. However, a doctor I know said that after an accident, all a helmet does is hold a broken skull together until the biker arrives in hospital. I have no idea if this is true or not and the comment should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. (Ordinary kitchen brand will do. It doesn't have to be the fancy Maldon type).
But of all the religious clothing used to differentiate individuals, my overriding objection is to the veil, which is used to mentally imprison women. Islam is one of many religions that need to be hauled into the 21st century, with gender equality for its followers the first principle.
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