banning burqas

Hi, this is a new thread proposed for the coffee house.There is recently talk of banning the burqa in a few European countries and in Canada.In France, Parliamentarians support a ban due to their support of "Values of freedom against all the oppressions which try to humiliate individuals; values of equality between men and women, against those who push for inequality and injustice." but we discover (in the previous link) that the socialists were initially opposed to the ban but changed tune after intervention from feminists while communists were in favour.In the UK, we have a centrist commentator who threatens to start wearing a burqa if such a ban went ahead, and we have a centre-right government who agrees with him, in opposition to a more-or-less fascist party.In Canada we have Muslims themselves calling for a ban but they are opposed by the right wing National PostSo confusing! Where is a liberal humanist to stake out his position?I took a look at the website of RAWA, since this is one case where listening to the point of view of Afghan women seems sensible. They seem to be saying that the burqa is undesirable and undignified, but appears to be useful as a means of disguising one's identity. But it is clear that they are against it and see it as a wholly fundamentalist male-enforced dress. It is less clear whether they would like it banned or merely optional (I sent them this question in an email with a cash donation - I'll post their response here if it comes back).

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I find myself torn between liberalism (let everybody wear what they say they want to wear), feminism (let no woman be socially nullified and silenced) and multiculturalism (let everybody wear what they wear, and hope it sorts itself out in the end).

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Ultimately I am tentatively thinking that it might be a case where the majority undemocratically should tread on the lives of the minority, for a higher purpose. Burqas are inherently sexist and an assault on the dignity of both men and women, and we in free countries should ban them as an expression of antidemocratic sentiment. Bit I am uncomfortable to find myself in agreement with British nazis.

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What do you think? Do you have any further information on what burqa-wearers themselves say? I would like to form a coherent opinion on this issue and hope for a sensible non-Islamophobic discussion.

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Best wishes to you all,

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Mick

Thread copied to the banning burqas thread in the Coffee House forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.