The Jack Straw Veil Controversy

Posted on October 13, 2006
Filed Under General Thoughts |

I know this is old news but what the hell I might as well just add my opinion. Now, I’m not really sure what his comments were exactly but if they were targeted at the Niqab  specifically ie. Burka then I would support him. A woman with a Niqab reveals nothing except her eyes. You can’t see the face and hence you can’t know the identity. I have a right to know who I’m talking to if they come and visit me.

Think about it. Even Saudi Arabia banned women to take their ID pics with their Niqab on. I repeat that’s Saudi Arabia we’re talking about. The ID is for identification purposes and therefore the face must be revealed. If the super conservative and at many times extremist Saudis banned it, why can’t Jack Straw have his damn right to know who the hell he’s talking to?? Why?

Comments

6 Responses to “The Jack Straw Veil Controversy”

  1. K from Oslo on October 13th, 2006 4:00 pm

    I’m a bit divided on this one. One the one hand my feminist bone says no man has any buniss telling any adult woman what to wear ,and that includes her father, husband and/or Jack Straw. On the other hand, I also think that women who chose to wear the veil need to apply some common sense as to when it is inappropriate to wear it (i.e in a bank, at any security checkpoint etc).

  2. halalhippie on October 13th, 2006 8:54 pm

    I second K. But, isn’t it a tempest in a teapot ? Looks like - thinking about the Danish Cartoon Controversy Revival, I’m sure you heard of - there’s a Muslim Media Watch on the lookout for insults from the West, re: your Jihad Watch post.

    World wide media can bring us closer together, but it can also blow things out of proportion.

  3. Rosemary on October 14th, 2006 3:27 am

    I would like to second both of them! In the west (America), we used to wear veils (see-through kind) in Church, but then we would take it off to eat. This went out of style (not by government mandate) in the late 60’s of this past century.

    If someone chooses to wear a veil, fine. Just respect those of us who need to see what you are actually thinking in a conversation, or do not talk to us. It comes down to assymilation. Sometimes, I wonder why people would want to live in my land without being a part of it?

    I hope they are not afraid of us. We generally invite just about anyone. Are they prejudiced? I cannot say, and I won’t. I will say, however, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Otherwise, don’t go to Rome! :)

  4. Drima on October 14th, 2006 7:48 am

    Honestly people, if he’s feeling uncomfortable talking to a veiled woman it’s very understandable. I mean he won’t even know who he’s talking to. In these tough times some people can be very paranoid. However if he demands women wearing it on the streets or whatever to take it off, then I say that’s non of his business. It’s the women’s right to wear what they want.

    Some are demanding that women take it off totally due to threat of terrorism. I say that’s garbage. Even if a woman will strap a bomb on herself under her very loose burka, she can still dress in a miniskirt and put the bomb in a handbag. It won’t make it a difference.

    Rosemary sometimes I too wonder why people go to a country with a culture so different from their own that sometimes it could actually be found very offending eg: homosexuals in Amsterdam making out.

  5. tooners on October 15th, 2006 8:46 am

    so you mean homosexuals in amsterdam making out is a bad thing?! ;)

    i have to agree w/ jack straw on here. i’ve read many posts on blogs about this issue and was at first divided, but i do understand his point and appreciate his candor on this point.

    i’m sorta surprised that there hasn’t been more outrage in the muslim community over this.

  6. Hipster on October 15th, 2006 9:52 am

    “i’m sorta surprised that there hasn’t been more outrage in the muslim community over this. ”

    Maybe cuz the “veil” that Straw is referring to is optional in Islam.What is mandatory is to cover everything save the face & hands.
    For instance, here in the UAE, women who wear al-niqab are asked to wear the normal hijab(uncover their faces) when they work in the police stations.

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