Burkha ban

[gffgold]

Goodness, what a lot of angry reaction from Muslim groups around the world to France's decision to ban face-covering clothing in public places. (Strangely, there didn't seem to be quite so much fuss the day before when Kampala was bombed...)

Have these people not noticed that conservative Muslim dress for women - such as the jilbab popular in Indonesia - is perfectly welcome in any EU country?

And why was it OK for the previous DPRD cabinet in Padang to insist that female non-Muslim SMA students in the regency must wear jilbabs at school? Their argument was that Padang is a traditionally pious Muslim society with its own established social norms. A weak argument in my opinion, but given that France is a secular republic with no tradition for face covering among its social norms: Sauce for the goose?

[Nimbus]

I'm not for banning any manner of clothing in public, Muslim or otherwise. In my opinion it's as much a mistake as mandating a manner of clothing. But hey, it's a democracy.

[waarmstrong]

I'm with Injun on this. The Hallmark of just and free societies is the treatment accorded minorities. Besides, like the Swiss ban on pointy towers at mosques, its really dumb.

[exbrit]

Sorry but I tend to disagree. When I moved to Indonesia I had to adapt to the culture here. I believe that anyone taking up residency in France should do the same thing. I can also see the problems caused by a full face mask. We have the same thing in the UK. How is a bus or train conductor supposed to check one's ID on the free pass? Or the police with a driver's licence? All it is going to take in the UK is for someone to rob a bank wearing one of those outfits and they will ban them in public for sure. There is going to be a real culture problem in the UK as Muslims there do not adapt but rather try to change the British culture to theirs. Check out this: http://roshangar.posterous.com/culture-difference-0

[Mas Fred]

Sorry but I tend to disagree.

So can you explain how banning this is justified while banning tight jeans in Aceh is bad news.

Personally I see both as the actions of bloody cretins.

[Alia]

And I cant help my self to feel a bit terrified when seeing a woman completely covered up in black long dress including their face, and sometimes their eyes too, just a very thin black veil for them to see where they going.

[waarmstrong]

Exbrit's argument boils down to forcing persons to conform to the majority culture is OK. Its not. In a free and just society individual rights trump forced conformity. Although the argument seems to presume that the ban applies to foreigners like us, I suspect that at least some of those who will be forced to conform are French citizens.

Besides that, Indonesia is not a particularly good example to be trumpeting as an example of place where human rights are respected. France is different. Most, I suppose, do not think of veiled Muslims as culturally French, but defense of minority and individual rights certainly is. In this case the present government is doing something very un-French if one considers The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 a foundation of French culture.

[kingwilly]

Check out this: http://roshangar.posterous.com/culture-difference-0

I dont need to, the url tells me already that the writer has preconceived ideas.

[Mas Fred]

I dislike the things but I also understand some women will become prisoners in their own homes because they feel it's wrong to go out uncovered.

[kingwilly]

^^^ tried to give you green rep for that answer waarmy, apparently I cannot yet...