France is about to propose a law that would fine anyone who forces a woman to wear a burka (burqa). Such individual would face a fine of €15,000 (£13,000). In the meantime, in Belgium legislators passed Europe’s first ban on the burka in public.
France has already prohibited the wearing of Burkas in some public areas. The law could force litigation over what is “forcing” a woman to wear a burka — a fact determination that could be loaded with religious bias.
Notably, the vote in Belgium was unanimous, here.
The burka bans convene core principles of religious freedom in Europe.
For the full story, click here.
You might have hit on something there ishobo – I can see “wear a paper bag to work” days being organized throughout France and Belguim 🙂
One would have thought though that all this potential for bother could have been avoided by just having a law that these women should remove their veils upon request by store staff, officials etc – similar to requirements for motorcycle helmets in the UK.
But hey, it takes a Visionary to come up with stuff like this, not a mere national assembly. We can’t all be Visionaries.
The Belgium bill does not ban the burka directly. The legislation seeks to ban any item of clothing that covers the face of a person in a public space or private property that is open and provides services to the public. A burka or a paper bag would both be illegal. An exception has been written to cover festivals.
Thanks Blouise, I feel much better now.
HEY EVERYBODY! I’M A VISIONARY!
Maaarrghk!
……. Blouise, I am both flattered and saddened, as that makes us both cynics playing the flaws in other humans just to enjoy a little freedom from unjust laws.
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No darlin’, we are not cynics … we have learned to adapt to our environment … which makes us visionaries or something equally as flattering.
There is a legitimate public safety issue of allowing masked people in public on a regular basis whether that mask is based on a religious belief or not.
Ask anyone ever robbed by a masked gunman and see if they care if the gunman wore a burka or a Nixon mask.
. . .While different to Western eyes, the Burka is a garment very much connected to Religious custom and belief. It could actually be compared to a Jew or Catholic wearing a skull cap for religious reasons.
. . .The Burka could be compared to the Robes that many Catholic Nuns wear on the public streets. The Burka could be compared to the black robe that Priests wear on the public streets. It could be compared to the yellow robes that monks wear on public streets. It could be compared to the Robes that many holy orders wear on the public streets.
. . . The skull cap is not overwhelming and overdone in Western eyes as it does not cover the entire body like the Burka.
. . .However, Muslims might justifiably claim that clothing related to religion should not be defamed by laws to make this Burka garment subject to law enforcement.
. . .It is obvious that this Burka garment is a religious item and should not be attacked by law enforcement for contrived reasons.
. . .The women who wear it can voluntarily stop wearing it at any time simply be ceasing to wear it. Of course, there likely might be stressful consequences within her family should she do so.
. . .Nevertheless, the Burka wearing woman has choices that she may elect to take if she decides.
Sorry Jericho, can’t agree, cos you know that it would mean that ugly people would have to wear that compulsory beachwear too. You would not want to see me in my bikini.
Blouise, I am both flattered and saddened, as that makes us both cynics playing the flaws in other humans just to enjoy a little freedom from unjust laws.
I’ve had it with freedom of religion anyway.
Banning burka’s should be only the beginning… We should go full bizarro-Sharia in the west:
Obligate beachwear – everyone should draw mohammed once a week – male rapists and adulturers get their d%cks cut off, and if you’re raped by a female you’ll ALSO get your d*ck cut off without any punishment for the woman – men cannot venture out in public without a female family escort – everyone has to work the weekend – women can ‘buy’/marry multiple men – music is played everywhere and always – sex before marriage is mandatory, as is drinking, cursing and blasphemy during weekdays.
Now there’s a law I could get behind, who’s with me.
Maaarrghk!
“Corruption can be a liberating thing at times. Strange.”
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I like the way you think!!
Oddly Philippine law says that I must wear a motorcycle helmet there, but I don’t and neither do most of the locals including the cops.
If pulled over by the LTO (cops don’t hand out helmet fines) I can simply ask to “pay the fine on the spot” and make it clear that I do not expect to be stopped again.
Corruption can be a liberating thing at times. Strange.
I can’t help but feel uncomfortable about laws on what one should or should not wear.
I don’t always want to wear a motorcycle helmet, but will be fined if I don’t.
I don’t want to wear goggles and gloves on a building site in the UK, but will be thrown off the site if I don’t.
So I don’t want to become a hypocrite.
We have plenty of muslims in my locality and they are a right bunch of trouble makers I can tell you. Everything has to respect their way of doing things, but they don’t have to respect anyone elses way of doing things.
Same in the Philippines where Mrs M! comes from.
Certainly I do feel very uncomfortable when I see a woman(?) in a burka in the street, but how much of that is my problem?
I think maybe both the French and the Belgians are treating the symptom but not the illness, which is a tendency towards radicalisation within European muslim communities.
Aye, lots of problem with the force analysis.