Burka-ban here to stay!

[Kraut and Tea]

The European high court for human rights has decided that the ban on wearing Burkas by the French Sarkozy government does not violate human rights. A French muslim had sued claiming that the ban was discriminatory.

http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justi...-a-978503.html

[sumskilz]

Wait, is the ban on wearing a burka or forcing someone to wear a burka? Because banning just wearing it seems pointlessly authoritarian to me.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Can we at least be accurate? It's not a ban on wearing a burka, it's a ban of publicly wearing any clothing that conceals the face.

There are plenty of other styles of headscarve/coverings that Muslim women can wear if they want. They just can't cover their faces.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28106900

[sumskilz]

They just can't cover their faces.

I guess I can see why that might be an issue in some circumstances, like showing your picture ID.

[Simon Cashmere]

Or robbing a bank....committing an act of terror, slipping away after committing an act of terror or robbing a bank...

[King Gambrinus]

All religious symbols should be banned from public areas such as schools and hospitals.

France have got it right on the Burqa, but their hypocritcal favoritism towards cultural Catholicisim should be criticised.

[sumskilz]

Or robbing a bank....committing an act of terror, slipping away after committing an act of terror or robbing a bank...

Yeah, valid concerns.

But this...

All religious symbols should be banned from public areas such as schools and hospitals.

Why?

[King_Porus]

So excuse my ignorance, but are there actual instances of someone in a Burka robbing a bank in France or is this just "preemptive". Also, if I were to wear a bandana in public in France, would I be hauled away and locked in the slammer? What if I was wearing a scarf that covered my face on a chilly morning?

[Finlander]

So excuse my ignorance, but are there actual instances of someone in a Burka robbing a bank in France or is this just "preemptive". Also, if I were to wear a bandana in public in France, would I be hauled away and locked in the slammer? What if I was wearing a scarf that covered my face on a chilly morning?

Exemptions from ban on public face covering:

• Motorcycle helmets
• Face masks for health reasons
• Face covering for sporting or professional activities
• Sunglasses, hats etc which do not completely hide the face
• Masks used in "traditional activities", such as carnivals or religious processions

I don't think you'd be charged for anything if you could demonstrate that you used a bandana to protect your lungs from a smoke, for example.

[Heathen Hammer]

Good for France.

[Big War Bird]

I hear women love to be told what they can and cannot wear.

[Markas]

I hear women love to be told what they can and cannot wear.

I can see the advantages in both those possible scenarios.

[PointOfViewGun]

I take it the European court decided that human rights does not cover freedom of expression?

[Lord of Nihilism]

This is a step in the right direction I think, so I support both the French Government's ruling and the European high court for human rights ruling.

[Request a new user name]

This is a step in the right direction I think, so I support both the French Government's ruling and the European high court for human rights ruling.

It is no one's business if someone covers their face and saying it throws up a barrier to public interaction says more about you than it does about them and tells me you objectify women and hate pluralism.

Glad I know where you stand.

[Denny Crane!]

So just the face then.

Hey it turns out I am not allowed to run down the street screaming happy and very very naked.

So I'm being told what I can and can not wear as well. Damn them for limiting my freedom of expression! Everyone should be able to see ME in my full glory.

It is no one's business if someone covers their face and saying it throws up a barrier to public interaction says more about you than it does about them and tells me you objectify women and hate pluralism.

Glad I know where you stand.

God I hate women so much that I don't allow those misogynistic practices that allow women to enter into that patriarchal domination that hates and subjugates women. The practice that comes from countries that allow legal rape and beating, treat the women like slaves and don't allow them to leave a country without permission. By not allowing this thing (in public, they can subjugate themselves all they want in private) I am proving how much I hate women.

I guess women could live in that paradise that is Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. But they'll not have those awesome freedoms in my woman hating country!

[Lord of Nihilism]

It is no one's business if someone covers their face and saying it throws up a barrier to public interaction says more about you than it does about them and tells me you objectify women and hate pluralism.

Glad I know where you stand.

Actually, it is the French Government's business what people wear in their country, and especially when it's clothing that covers your entire face since it's both a security concern, and a cultural concern. France isn't an islamic country and as such all headgear related to Islam(That covers your entire face) is banned. You want to wear a Burka that covers your entire face in public? Go to the Middle East or some other Islamic country that accepts such traditions; France isn't one of those countries and thus it's their responsibility(The Government) to make sure these laws are being followed.

[Denny Crane!]

So just the face then.

Hey it turns out I am not allowed to run down the street screaming happy and very very naked.

So I'm being told what I can and can not wear as well. Damn them for limiting my freedom of expression! Everyone should be able to see ME in my full glory.

[alex man142]

This law is simply and utterly absurd, idiotic, and insane. My goodness. If I want to wear a Burka then I should have the right to wear a Burka. If the woman is not forced to, then I see no issue at all. This is big government run amok.

It is sad, really. I thought that Europe was advanced and liberal. I guess not . Welcome back to the 50s baby!

[athanaric]

This law is simply and utterly absurd, idiotic, and insane. My goodness. If I want to wear a Burka then I should have the right to wear a Burka. If the woman is not forced to, then I see no issue at all.

I'm sure those adjectives apply more closely to your post than to the law in question.

This is big government run amok.

Are you allowed to run around naked in your country (see above)? There are a couple of American states where women aren't even allowed to go topless. So there are specific regulations pertaining to clothing in just about every country, after all. Funny huh?

It is sad, really. I thought that Europe was advanced and liberal. I guess not .

Because as we all know, Europe is just another word for France.

Welcome back to the 50s baby!

Except this law, unlike the laws we had in the 1950s, is anti-patriarchy.