Burqas, bans and bias: Where women's religious freedom meets public fear
Burqa-clad women stroll on a street in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on May 16, 2014.
What you need to know:
- Burqa bans ignite global debates on security, religious freedom, cultural identity, and the rights of women.
- Muslim women face complex restrictions as Western democracies wrestle with balancing public safety and religious expression.
The controversial Province of Quebec legislation enacted in 2019, which prohibited numerous public employees from donning religious symbols in the workplace, curtailed freedoms within Canada. Teachers, judges, and police officials can no longer wear Muslim hijabs, Jewish skullcaps, Sikh turbans, and other religious symbols in the workplace.
Although the burqa is not commonly donned in Kenya, and there have been instances of bans on full-face veils in public areas for security purposes, it is inaccurate to assert that Kenyans "wear" the burqa as a prevalent custom. In Kenya, Muslim women are permitted to wear hijabs, following a court decision that allows their use in Christian educational institutions.
Moreover, the regulation prohibits Muslim women from accessing government services, such as healthcare and public transportation, if they are wearing niqabs (facial veils).
Burqas represent symptoms rather than underlying causes. The relationship between Islam and Western culture is characterised by conflict. The evident conflict between Islam and Western culture produces one outstanding outcome and one abysmal result, but this serves no purpose. Democracy and tolerance are often regarded as hallmarks of Western values, whereas Islam is frequently characterised as dictatorial and religious in nature.
Consequently, Muslims are opposed to the concept of religious freedom. Islam stands as the singular faith. Rest should be serene. Apostasy is detrimental. They assert that religious freedom is acceptable to them. While certain individuals critique Islam for its perceived regulation of women's attire, they subsequently engage in a similar pattern, asserting that they provide “liberation”. Insincerity. Ignorance.
I refer to Catholic nuns as penguin cosplayers. Catholic nunneries require an attire that is more suitable than burkas, yet the traditional penguin suit fails to provide facial coverage. Some argue that if we permit nunnery garments, we ought to also allow burqas.
What is the rationale behind choosing to cover and wear a hijab? I hold the view that women ought to have the freedom to choose their attire as they see fit. If a woman is free to don bikinis and showcase her physique, she equally possesses the right to wear a hijab. As a Muslim, I have no objections to my Christian friends wearing whatever they prefer. Honor and acknowledge the beliefs of others! Allow others to live in peace!
There has been considerable discourse in the UK concerning the potential prohibition of burqas in public spaces. Although a limited number of British Muslim women don the garments, the issue frequently emerges in discussions within news and political spheres. Concerns arise regarding security, women's rights, and the preservation of religious and cultural freedoms.
The prohibition of burqas is often justified by concerns related to security. Law enforcement may encounter difficulties in identifying individuals who conceal their faces. Criminals and terrorist suspects have occasionally employed burqas to conceal their identities.
In 2013, terrorist suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed successfully evaded law enforcement by donning a burqa at a mosque in London. Yassin Omar, a suspect in terrorism-related activities, evaded capture during the 2005 London bombings by donning a burqa.
The Selfridges heist of 2013 in London resulted in the theft of nearly £1 million (about Sh175 million) worth of watches, whereas the Leicester robbery in 2019 involved an individual clad in a burqa who threatened a shopkeeper with a knife.
Some perceive that the wearing of a burqa signifies oppression. They believe that prohibiting it will free women from the obligation to wear it. For this reason, France and Belgium have prohibited the wearing of facial coverings in public spaces.
In 2018, Boris Johnson asserted that women who wear the burqa resembled “letterboxes”. While many perceived his remarks as disrespectful, he stood in opposition to the proposed ban.
Nonetheless, numerous Muslim women assert that their choice to wear the burqa is rooted in religious beliefs. They assert that prohibiting it would restrict their liberties and adversely affect women.
A significant number of Canadians contend that the burqa contravenes British principles of transparency and direct interpersonal interaction, as it obscures the identity of the wearer and fosters a climate where individuals prioritise their safety. Some argue that full facial coverings may impede harmonious coexistence.
Furthermore, Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, declines to engage with women wearing burqas during her constituency clinic sessions.
A significant number of individuals in both Britain and Canada hold the view that their respective nations are multicultural and ought to welcome diverse lifestyles. The coverage provided by the media serves to maintain this topic's prominence in public discourse. Although infrequent, news headlines often highlight crimes involving individuals in burqas.
Furthermore, media narratives emerging from European countries that have implemented burqa bans prompt a segment of the British populace to contemplate whether the United Kingdom should pursue a similar course of action.
Law permits the practice of religion in the United Kingdom and Canada. The Human Rights Act safeguards the freedom of speech and the right to hold beliefs. The administration would certainly encounter legal challenges should it impose a ban on the burqa.
The prohibition of the burqa may lead to feelings of insecurity or undesirability among Muslim women in public spaces. This could potentially exacerbate societal divisions. The discourse surrounding the burqa ban in the UK brings to the forefront significant themes such as safety, freedom, gender dynamics, and intercultural relations.
It is incorrect to categorise the ban on the burqa as an act of Islamophobia. Concerns regarding security have prompted numerous Muslim countries to impose bans on burqas. Regrettably, surveys conducted by YouGov UK indicate that most individuals in Britain support the prohibition of the burqa in public spaces.
The discourse surrounding principles, identity, and liberties remains active, notwithstanding its political sensitivity. Despite its political sensitivity, the conversation about values, identity, and freedoms is still going strong.
Surjit Singh Flora is a freelance writer and journalist who lives in Brampton, Canada. He is the author of the book “The Challenge and The Opportunity”.