I'm all for multiculturalism and acceptance of different religions, but I cannot accept the burka, which is growing like a virus. Nothing in Islam requires women to wear the full veil. But the premise for wearing it is that a woman should not reveal herself to anyone outside her family. Fine, but the men dress freely, so one rule for men and another for women. It's more a statement about the position of women and the threat of men who apparently cannot control themselves if they see a woman's face, hair, hand or ankles, than an item of clothing. It also physically cuts women off. Maybe that's the intention. Keep women covered up and in the home, whilst the men are free to do whatever they like.
France is the first European country to propose a ban. It hasn't happened yet, but the debate is ongoing. Interestingly, Fadela Amara, a Muslim female politician in France, has come out in favour of a ban. Only a tiny majority – 1,900 according to one estimate – of France’s 5m Muslims wear the garment. But its spread is seen by some political leaders as a worrying sign of the rise of fundamentalist Islam in France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim community. Sarkozy has spoken of "this feeling of sharing less and less a common culture, a common imagination and a common morality." In his view, becoming French means "adhering to a form of civilisation, values and behaviour." And surely that's the whole point of social integration. Whereas the burka encourages separation.
According to a poll for Le Point magazine last week, 57 per cent of French people are in favour of a total ban on the burka and figures from a Harris poll show similar numbers back it here in the UK. I'm one of them.
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