The Burka: To Ban, Or Not To Ban?
France controversially banned the burka in July this year. It was then banned in Syrian universities, and now there is growing pressure for other countries to follow suit.
A common objection to the burka is the security threat it poses. It is concerning to know that a person can board a plane without removing their face-covering veil. This makes it very difficult to check who is actually entering the country, and could allow terror suspects to escape monitoring.
There have also been many objections from a social point of view: Lots of people feel that covering one’s face in public is antisocial and discourages cohesion. In western society, facial expression is a very important part of conversation, and the inability to see someone’s face can therefore be off-putting.
Many Muslim women are forced to wear the burka by the male members of their family. It is not a strict requirement of their religion, yet failing to wear this oppressive garment when instructed can cause all sorts of family problems. In these circumstances it is extremely sexist and has no place in western society.
Perhaps a happy medium would be to prohibit face-covering veils from places where national security could be jeopardized by anonymity, such as airports.
Despite the social and security implications of the burka, should the choice to wear it remain with the wearer? Whilst some are forced to cover their faces, if the burka is banned, then freedom of choice on the matter is removed entirely.
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