British public in favour of burqa ban

[Gradea]

http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-euro ... -ban-poll/

Thoughts?

[Adytus]

It will just make radicalization worse by further excluding and alienating members of society.

[Cormac]

It will just make radicalization worse by further excluding and alienating members of society.

This is definitely a risk, and part of the reason I don't favor banning the hijab or other forms of public religious expression.

But with burqas you do also have to look at the security risk involved -- it is very easy to conceal weapons, or even to conceal one's true identity, under a burqa because you're covered from head to toe with only your eyes exposed. So I think that makes it a tougher issue about balancing the rights of the individual with the safety and security of the broader society.

[Adytus]

It will just make radicalization worse by further excluding and alienating members of society.

This is definitely a risk, and part of the reason I don't favor banning the hijab or other forms of public religious expression.

But with burqas you do also have to look at the security risk involved -- it is very easy to conceal weapons, or even to conceal one's true identity, under a burqa because you're covered from head to toe with only your eyes exposed. So I think that makes it a tougher issue about balancing the rights of the individual with the safety and security of the broader society.

I agree security is important, but banning a religious dress because it is a security threat is a poorly constructed policy, in my opinion. It will not address the wider issue of why Muslim communities feel disenfranchised within France, and why dangerous, radicalization occurs at all. I'm afraid regulations targeting Muslims have more to do with fear of what parts of the Islamic world have become, rather than a smart security policy. Nuns still walk the streets, and perhaps they don't carry bombs on them because they are a welcomed site in France.

[Ahemait]

It will just make radicalization worse by further excluding and alienating members of society.

This is definitely a risk, and part of the reason I don't favor banning the hijab or other forms of public religious expression.

But with burqas you do also have to look at the security risk involved -- it is very easy to conceal weapons, or even to conceal one's true identity, under a burqa because you're covered from head to toe with only your eyes exposed. So I think that makes it a tougher issue about balancing the rights of the individual with the safety and security of the broader society.

It would make it easier to conceal weapons, but the Boston Marathon bombers used bags. Also, an assault rifle with a retractable stock is not difficult to hide. Someone could honestly hide it in sweatpants and a coat. As Adytus said it would only alienate Muslims and churn out radicalism. Furthermore, how would that look to the upcoming generations of people living under this law? Would it not plant a seed of Islamophobia in the young people and all of the progress that has been made is now gone?

[Kaiser Adolf]

I am against this for sure. This will make it worst... Muslims are divided into 2 groups which is Real Muslims and Radical Muslim (around 5-10 percent at most). This radical Muslim group is actively spreading their false propaganda to the muslim community and by chance they will use this kind of issue as their propaganda in supporting radicalisation.