Canadian Muslim Congress - ban the Burka

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TORONTO - The Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC) is asking Ottawa to introduce legislation to ban the wearing of masks, niqabs and the burka in all public dealings.

What is the issue?
• Some Canadian public figures and organizations, including the Muslim Canadian Congress, have recently called on the government to ban certain forms of female Muslim dress. They argue that the niqab (face covering) and burka (full body covering) – for simplicity, collectively referred to herein as “the veil” – are an affront to Canada’s commitment to gender equality, and are psychologically and physically harmful to the wearer.
What is the CSA’s position on banning the veil?
• The CSA, as an organization advancing government neutrality in matters of religion, cannot support legal prohibition of the veil. The general view of the CSA is that:
(1) in the absence of a compelling reason to the contrary, no person should be forced to comply with a dress code imposed by the state; and
(2) no person should be forced to comply with a dress code imposed by their families, religious leaders, or cultural community.
• The CSA does not believe that the law is an instrument that can effectively address (2) while respecting Canadians’ fundamental rights and freedoms. Canadian law cannot shield a woman from non-violent influence exerted by others. Coercion involving violence or the threat of violence is already prohibited under the Criminal Code and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
• In short, the CSA supports both the right of women to wear the veil if they so choose, and the right of women not to wear the veil if they so choose. Instead of selectively banning some religious practices, our society should do more to ensure that girls and women in religious communities are aware of their rights as Canadians, and do more to support and enable them to exit a religious community should they so choose.

Even the ' jesus and the donkey' topic was more interesting than this.

I've never seen anyone in a "niqab" or a burka in public. I've seen plenty of hijabs or head scarves or whatever they're called.

But yea, the government shouldn't be banning so and so religious dress because it causes supposed psychological harmful to the wearer. Bad precedent.

The only real argument is that it's an affront to public safety by walking around in a mask. I remember a controversy a few years ago about Muslim women wanting to wear burkas in driving license photos. They should have to identify themselves when prompted just as everybody else is.

I've never seen anyone in a "niqab" or a burka in public. I've seen plenty of hijabs or head scarves or whatever they're called.

Come to Preston or Blackburn in the UK. You'll see niqabs quite frequently. It unnerves a lot of people here. Personally, I think that all health facilities, airports and other government facilities should ban them with the hint that private businesses should do so too if they want to - shops, banks and post offices particularly.

It's an archaic cultural garment associated with the extremes of Islam, not a religious symbol. No-one minds a face scarf. We do mind not having eye contact and being able to see the face of the person we're talking to.

Anybody who wants to control how other people dress is a moron and a jackass.

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Aww shucks, I got a troll with enough of a vendetta against me to pretend they aren't amazed at my knowledge of political ironies. And one that rhetorically shoots themselves in the foot by saying "this topic sucks" yet expending the energy to type a reply.

What about banning face masks and hoods in banks?
Is that foolish or is it a measure to discourage bank robberies?

ruveyn

Anybody who wants to control how other people dress is a moron and a jackass.

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