
ANTWERP, Belgium — Chances of seeing a burqa in Belgium are only a little better than spotting a liquor shop in Saudi Arabia. Yet Belgium soon may be the first European nation to outlaw the burqa and other Islamic garb that completely hides a woman’s body
“Banning the burqa in Belgium is easy. The vast majority of Muslim women here don’t wear one,” says Maryam H’madoun, an activist in Antwerp for Muslim women’s right to wear head scarves in public places.
Last year, the city of Brussels fined only 29 women — down from 33 in 2008 — for wearing a burqa-type dress, leading critics to say the regulations are an empty populist gesture. Local rules ban the burqa, but the new law would outlaw it on a national level.
Which makes that it has nothing to do with religion, or EVERY muslim woman would wear it.
I dislike the burqua as much as anyone. I see it as a sign of oppression against women. However when we start banning things where do we stop? And who decides what get's banned and what gets tolerated? In 50 years people may want to ban all religion.
Here's an example of why it is oppression and not religion. Considering they tend to live in hot, desert-y climates, who the hell in their right mind would voluntarily wear dark clothing?? I notice the men don't wear dark heavy clothing. Even in Windsor, I've seen the heavy, black burkhas, and that city from about May til September, tends to be oppressively hot and humid. Kind'a like the Louisiana swamps. I've also noticed that in the more "moderate" Muslim countries, the women tend to wear more colourful, lighter materials.
I don't have any issue with the head scarf(or whatever they call it) cuz it really ain't any different than when some little ol' lady wears one. Different reasons maybe, but certainly no more "threatening" than the little ol' lady.
Even if it is a religious garment, it certainly isn't oppressive. No more so than a Christian wearing a cross.
If you don't think(not you specifically RUEZ) the burkha is oppressive and is simply a "religious" garment, I'd suggest finding a nice thick, dark coloured coat with a hood and try wearing it whenever you go outside in the middle of summer.
I dislike the burqua as much as anyone. I see it as a sign of oppression against women. However when we start banning things where do we stop? And who decides what get's banned and what gets tolerated? In 50 years people may want to ban all religion.
I agree. Ban it where necessary for security or ID purposes, banks, airports, drivers licence photos, police lineups, etc, but not a general ban.
http://qc.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100417/i ... e_insolite
Bravo Belgium !!!
I dislike the burqua as much as anyone. I see it as a sign of oppression against women. However when we start banning things where do we stop? And who decides what get's banned and what gets tolerated? In 50 years people may want to ban all religion.
I agree. Ban it where necessary for security or ID purposes, banks, airports, drivers licence photos, police lineups, etc, but not a general ban.
What about schools?
My kids cant wear a hat/cap in class, why would they be allowed to wear a burqa, or even a headscarf?
I dislike the burqua as much as anyone. I see it as a sign of oppression against women. However when we start banning things where do we stop? And who decides what get's banned and what gets tolerated? In 50 years people may want to ban all religion.
I agree. Ban it where necessary for security or ID purposes, banks, airports, drivers licence photos, police lineups, etc, but not a general ban.
What about schools?
My kids cant wear a hat/cap in class, why would they be allowed to wear a burqa, or even a headscarf?
That's a good point. But we let Sikhs wear their turbans where others have to go bareheaded - same thing here. And you can cry that it's not a religious requirement, but the supreme court would go with sincerely held belief on that one.
What about schools?
My kids cant wear a hat/cap in class, why would they be allowed to wear a burqa, or even a headscarf?
That's a good point. But we let Sikhs wear their turbans where others have to go bareheaded - same thing here. And you can cry that it's not a religious requirement, but the supreme court would go with sincerely held belief on that one.
True, but as far as I see, all Sikh males wear them. Not every muslim woman does. Especially not a burqa or niqab. What about the Jews skull-thingy? (no offence, I just dont know what its called in English
(I must add that the fact Sikhs do not have to wear a helmet because they wear a turban is something I do not agree with)
I do not have a big issue with a headscarf, but I am a fan of equality. I think religion and state should be seperated, and as long as you attend a "state school", get rid of the religious bullshit.
What you want to wear in your house or church, private parties, or whatever private, fine, whatever floats your boat. But in public life, work, school, sorry, no place for religion. Religion is something personal.
True, but as far as I see, all Sikh males wear them. Not every muslim woman does. Especially not a burqa or niqab. What about the Jews skull-thingy? (no offence, I just dont know what its called in English
(I must add that the fact Sikhs do not have to wear a helmet because they wear a turban is something I do not agree with)
I do not have a big issue with a headscarf, but I am a fan of equality. I think religion and state should be seperated, and as long as you attend a "state school", get rid of the religious bullshit.
What you want to wear in your house or church, private parties, or whatever private, fine, whatever floats your boat. But in public life, work, school, sorry, no place for religion. Religion is something personal.
NO, not all Sikh males wear them - the majority in Canada don't. But devout Sikhs wear them, along with the kirpan etc. Same with the Jewish kippah/yarmulke/beany - most don't wear it, but some insist on wearing it all the time.
I agree with no Sikh exemption for motorcyles - and for hard hats on the job, which they also get.
I was going to write that I believe in equality - if you let a Sikh wear a turban, you have to let others wear whatever headgear they choose as well. And if you let a woman wear a face covering, then hockey masks etc should also be allowed. But I don't know if I actually agree with this. The Legion asks you to take your hat off as a sign of respect, but was forced to make an exemption for Sikhs. I guess that makes sense, in a a less of two evils sort of way.
True, but as far as I see, all Sikh males wear them. Not every muslim woman does. Especially not a burqa or niqab. What about the Jews skull-thingy? (no offence, I just dont know what its called in English
(I must add that the fact Sikhs do not have to wear a helmet because they wear a turban is something I do not agree with)
I do not have a big issue with a headscarf, but I am a fan of equality. I think religion and state should be seperated, and as long as you attend a "state school", get rid of the religious bullshit.
What you want to wear in your house or church, private parties, or whatever private, fine, whatever floats your boat. But in public life, work, school, sorry, no place for religion. Religion is something personal.
NO, not all Sikh males wear them - the majority in Canada don't. But devout Sikhs wear them, along with the kirpan etc. Same with the Jewish kippah/yarmulke/beany - most don't wear it, but some insist on wearing it all the time.
I agree with no Sikh exemption for motorcyles - and for hard hats on the job, which they also get.
I was going to write that I believe in equality - if you let a Sikh wear a turban, you have to let others wear whatever headgear they choose as well. And if you let a woman wear a face covering, then hockey masks etc should also be allowed. But I don't know if I actually agree with this. The Legion asks you to take your hat off as a sign of respect, but was forced to make an exemption for Sikhs. I guess that makes sense, in a a less of two evils sort of way.
Actually, in the case of the Legions, I supported the Sikh's right to wear their turbans. They wore them while they were fighting for our side in WW2.
If they were good enough to wear in combat, they're good enough to wear in the Legion.