ECHR Upholds French Veil and Niqab Ban

I really do think it is time for us in the west to stop pandering to those whose traditions and cultures are somewhat different to our own. Why should a white Anglo-Saxon motorcyclist be treated any differently to a woman wearing a Niqab when going into a London bank or other establishment that may need to establish identity or satisfy security requirements?

If a western woman visits an Arab state, then she is required to wear a shawl-like scarf covering her head and her arms and legs must be covered by clothing. That's almost everywhere in the Arab world except for Dubai which has a somewhat more enlightened attitude. In Malaysia similar rules apply but only if visiting government offices but that does not appear to be the case in Indonesia. Here in the Philippines and like Malaysia and Indonesia, few Muslims wear Niqabs but those that do are required to remove them at air and sea ports as well as government offices - and motorcyclists have to remove their helmets and visors.

I'm really happy they have upheld the verdict.

Common sense prevails, not often we can say that here at BF

The video highlights the fact that mother and baby need eye contact and facial expressions, wonder if mothers with veils do discard it momentarily whilst outdoors and baby acts up?

All in all it must be degrading for the woman to wear a veil, its just another extension of their husbands grip that they hold over them.

Can someone please tell the Muslim men folk that we are now in the 21st century and women are no longer second class citizens and they deserve equal respect.

I'm just not sure I'd want to live in a country where the government tells people what they can and can't wear. This is a special case, in that it could be interpreted as an aggressive gesture, or could throw up security fears, but, well it's just a difficult one and I'm glad I'm not in charge to have to make that decision.

I think its about security in the main, but the veil does cause offence to some people too.

It's not that long ago that there was a furore involving British Airways who told its check-in staff that they could not wear crucifixes whilst on duty because they might cause offence to non-Christians.

Some people don't use security issues as a reason to want to ban the vail, they're just closet racists!

Anyone, regardless of race has to adhere to the Laws of the country they are residing in. When I go to Dubai, I cannot hold hands with my girlfriend, I cannot give her a peck on the cheek, there are no public displays of affection allowed, I don't like it but I have to abide by it.

The veil to me is a sign of oppression and should be banned in Europe, if they want to wear it in Pakistan and the like, then that's fine.

So you support the notion that women are second-class citizens and must not show their faces in public, a rather misogynistic point of view is it not. Have you actually asked any Muslim women if they wear veils and Niqabs voluntarily, of their own free will because I'm pretty sure you'll find that many do not.

Worst Arab veils I have seen are the middle eastern ones, where the woman also has to wear a big black moustache shape, looks like it is cut crudely out of cardboard or tin??

Seen those in the Little Arabia area of Bangkok.

Edit: Google tells me that it is a batoola...