Should we ban the Burka?

Introduction

          This blog will consider whether or not the UK should ban the burka or full face veil. This is in light of the recent judge ruling and the comments of Liberal Democrat Home Office Minister Jeremy Browne on the need for a debate on the issue. The likes of Belgium and France have already issued various bans on the full face veil and other European countries including Britain are now considering following suit.

Schools, Health Professionals and the Police

          In my view, people should be allowed to wear what they want unless there is good reason to say otherwise. For me, there are certain professions in which, in order to carry out their role effectively, the persons face needs to be visible. This is in order to build up a relationship and trust between the role holder and the people in which they work with.

          These professions include the likes of those working with children, those in the health profession and law enforcement. Like I said, for the people who hold these roles to carry out their work effectively, they need to be trusted and have a rapport with those they work with and this is made difficult by the wearing of the full face veil or burka.

          This being said, I am not against the wearing of head scarfs in these roles as long as they don't cover the face. Nor am I against those who wish to wear the burka as they go about their everyday lives as long as they're not forced to or as long as they're not carrying out work in the above said professions.

          For me, this is based on my view that the burka, in essence, degrades woman to merely property only to be seen by their husband. However, it is not for me to say what women can and cannot wear except, as stated earlier, there is good reason to say otherwise.

Conclusion

          If European countries, including the likes of Britain, consider implementing a ban on the burka, they should tread very carefully on the precise phrasing of the law. This is to ensure a balance is kept between civil liberty and ensuring equality for women. However, it is my view that those who force women to wear the burka should be treated more harshly than those who simply choose to wear the burka by their own free will. Furthermore, any ban on the burka should be kept as limited as possible with it only going as far as can be reasonable justified as was discussed above.

Jason Cates