Banning the Burqa?

[Tiberius]

What do YOU define as a 'Burqa'? For me it is a Cultural piece of clothing not unlike so many "National costumes" we see here in Australia.

This: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burqa

As such .... should you want to run around in silly inappropriate clothing ..well that is up to you.

I was originally glad this was your view, but then it is completely contradicted by the following:

IF, we are talking about "Full face Coverings" then this is a different matter. The number of armed robberies utilising "burqas, hoodies, and balaclavas and masks- Full Face Coverings" has prompted the authorities here to take a VERY dim view of those who would cover themselves from head to toe (thank Hollywood et al) and to leave those in the late night "Convenience stores and service stations" very uncomfortable indeed.

No, it is not a different matter. A burqa is a full face covering; it covers the full face (or possible the face except the eyes). So do you think that people should be free to wear them or not?

Full face coverings may have prompted the authorities to take a very dim view of such people, but what we are trying to decide here is whether that view is rational. In my opinion, laws based on irrationality are dangerous. Basing a law on someone feeling "uncomfortable" is a very irrational thing to do. People feel uncomfortable over many different things.

Banning these things does not solve the problem, even if it makes people feel better. Consider the two scenarios:

1) Burqa's are legal. A woman dressed in one enters a store, the owner gets nervous, but all is fine because it's just a woman who wants to pay for something.
2) Burqa's are illegal. A criminal uses one anyway and enters a store, the owner gets nervous, threatens to call the police. The burqa-wearing criminal draws his gun and demands all the money.

How exactly did banning the burqa help in scenario 2? It didn't. It just alienated all the burqa-wearing customers like the lady in scenario 1. Now, I'm not saying that someone shouldn't be nervous if someone in a burqa comes into their store; after all, they might be a criminal as per scenario 2. I'm just saying that reacting to that nervousness by passing a useless law is not going to help.

In a Utopian world, then yes people should be able to pay for their fuel without having to remove their PPE/ Motorcycle Helmets, but we don't live in that sort of society as yet and so "YOUR face and it's ease of identification" is your passport to no harassment from authorities here or in any 'western' society.

I'm confused as to the sort of identification one needs to buy fuel. I've bought fuel many times, and have never been asked for ID, even when I have never met the salesperson before. As I said before, if identification is required, then obviously the burqa needs to be removed (not banned though). This should still be done with Islamic customs in mind.

Further, why shouldn't said individual protest the use of the Niqab/ Full Burqa? Are you saying that they should just shut up and wear what is happening to their western society? With no right of opposition?

No I'm not saying that, and I'm unsure as to which part of my reply made you think I meant that. I personally think the burqa is a horrible thing to get women to wear, but I'm also a Libertarian, and so cannot in good conscience allow my personal views on something to outrank someone else's. If a woman wants to wear a burqa, it is up to her. If she is subservient to her husband, and he demands it of her, then it is up to him. Relationships, like what people wear, should be of no concern to the government unless a person's rights are being violated without their permission.