Muslim group calls for burka ban

[ccharles000]

A Canadian Muslim group wants the federal government to ban two kinds of garments, the burka and the niqab, worn by some women.

The Muslim Canadian Congress said the garments, which cover the face, have no basis in Islam.

The group's spokesperson, Farzana Hassan, said the practice of wearing the burka and niqab is more rooted in Middle Eastern culture than in religious teachings. She added that there is nothing in the Qur'an that stipulates women must cover their faces.

She said the issue is one of public safety.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/08/canada-muslim-burka-niqb-ban-government.html?ref=rss

[Warpy]

1. She's right, they're horrible things

Even the abaya, which covers everything but the face, is more humane.

Best of all is the hijab, a simple head scarf. I see them all over the place in this town and they don't restrict sight or movement.

The Quran only stipulates modest dress and says nothing about hiding the hair. The shrouds that cover the face are a strictly tribal perversion that should be condemned by all of Islam.

[demosincebirth]

2. She is right, but takes a chance of bodily harm coming to her for speaking out against "Islam."

[applegrove]

6. When they interviewed the organization on the news it was a male who was speaking.

I thought - yes he is brave - but at least it is out there and the discussion can begin. I wonder what percentage of women want to wear the niqab and what percentage are forced to by family pressure.

[demosincebirth]

7. We, probably, all would be surprised with that percentage.

[Chemisse]

3. But who is she to call for a ban?

If the women want to wear them, they should be able to. Now if they are being forced to wear them by their husbands, (most likely the case, imo) they can outlaw that as a type of abuse.

[kenny blankenship]

4. I think it should be like liquor.

If at age 21, and after a full 21 years of not being treated like some male's property that no one else should dare look at, you so strongly wish to broadcast your chattel status that you are willing to cover yourself from head to foot, you should be legally allowed to do so.

I'm going to guess that if girls are given 21 yrs. of effective freedom from brainwashing and coercion, the burqa will have few takers. Oh, maybe not as few as will line up for Female Genital Mutilation - which is another highly popular "choice" among Muslim women, if you believe apologists for the Islamic oppression of women - but a lot fewer than now.

[Chemisse]

5. That is a good idea.

It could be considered child abuse to shroud up a daughter like that, which would keep them bare faced until age 18 anyway.