MUSLIM WORLD: Sweeping support to ban full Islamic veil in Western Europe as France votes on Burka ban, survey shows

Get the burka, the head-to-toe Muslim veil, off the streets.

That's the message from large majorities in numerous Western European countries as French parliamentarians gear up to vote on Tuesday on a controversial proposed bill that would make it illegal for Muslim women to wear the burka in public places, a new report suggests.

According to a survey conducted by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center in April and May this year, support for banning the burka is especially high in France, where a whopping 82% are in favor of outlawing it in public places such as schools, hospitals and government offices, while just 17% are opposed to such measures. 

But the study also indicates that the garment, which has been the subject of much heated debate and controversy in Europe, is becoming increasingly unpopular in Germany, Britain, and Spain, where 71%, 62% and 59%, respectively, of those surveyed endorsed burka bans similar to the proposed French law in their own countries. 

Americans, on the other hand, remain strongly opposed to such a law. Only 28% of those surveyed in the U.S. were in support of a burka ban while 65% disapproved.

Majorities of all different age groups in the four Western European countries surveyed (France, Britain, Germany, Spain) expressed support for getting burkas out of public places, but the desire to ban it was especially high among those age 55 and older, the study found.

"It's unpleasant when you can't see the face of the person you are looking at or talking to. I think it's scary when they walk around like that in the streets of Stockholm," 96-year old Elsa, long since retired, told Babylon & Beyond in the Swedish capital.

Another passer-by, a woman in her late 60s, said that total face-masking in public places -- whether a clown's mask or a burka -- is "repugnant" while expressing concern over claims by some that the face-covering black veil is a tool used by  fundamentalist men to repress women. 

In terms of political ideology, those on the right in the majority of the countries surveyed were overall more likely than those on the left to endorse a burka ban, although the study still found widespread support for such a law across the political spectrum. 

In Paris, one communist lawmaker reportedly compared the cloak to "walking coffins" while another from President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative party stressed that women who wear the burka must be liberated -- even if it's against their will.

Security and the garment being an alleged symbol of repression were two of the main arguments when a representative from Sweden's conservative nationalist political party The Sweden Democrats explained to Babylon & Beyond the reasoning behind the party's support for a burka ban.  

"We are in favor of a ban for full-covering veils," media spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats Mattias Karlsson said. "It's a symbol of far-reaching Islamism and a totalitarian political ideology that's against equality between the sexes and advocates violence. It's like putting the responsibility of men's instincts on the women."

But Erik Ullenhag, party secretary for Sweden's Liberal People's Party, which is part of the current center-right governing bloc, said that his party was against any legislation against clothing, although he pointed out that the black cloak might not be the most suitable piece of clothing to wear in certain professions. Teaching, for example.

"We don't want a burka ban," he said. "People should decide for themselves what they want to wear. The burka can at times be an expression of a very patriarchal structure but we're against laws against clothing."

-- Alexandra Sandels in Stockholm

Photos: Recently published research suggests that large majorities in several Western European countries are in favor of banning the full-covering Islamic veil commonly known as the burka. Lower image: Two women, one of them wearing a burka, strolling in downtown Marseille, France. Credit: The Associated Press

Comments

[jayabdih]

Freedom of speech is... dont force them to speak or see their faces if they dont want to. Is this a real problem?

[Michaela Fogarty]

The ignorance of burka supporters is shocking. They actually believe the sack is a religious symbol of Islam. It is emphatically not. Educate yourselves and you will discover that the burka was initially forced upon women by a woman hating tribal fundamentalist Moslem sect. As Mona Eltahawy told Rachel Kohn on Radio National The Spirit of Things in February this year:

“……. the burqa and the niqab, face veils of any kind, do not belong to Islam, they're much more a tribal expression that is very specific to the Arabian Peninsula, specifically Saudi Arabia and its very ultra Orthodox interpretation of Islam, commonly known as Wahabi or Salafi Islam. This is where the face veil comes from.”

So to cheer for the burka is to cheer for murderous fascist regimes.

You are not being a champion of women or religious rights; you are in fact supporting vicious discrimination imposed by ruthless regimes that hold power via brutal sadistic regulations reinforced by fearsome barbaric reprisals for any disobedience.

Be informed and stand up for human rights, instead of being misinformed and supporting the ferocious brutality of homicidal megalomaniacs hiding behind Islam and the sacred cow of unassailable ludicrously named ‘holy rights’!

[Dean Blake]

Dark days in France, this vote. Ouri voire liberte` and fraternite`. The ban addresses the most superficial insignificant aspect of the Islamic invasion of Europe and accomplsihes nothing except to engender and validate discrimination against the 'other'. Last year the Courts banned yarmulkas in public school as are Stars of David and crosses, on children!

Arabs already banned french kissing. Next thing you now Arab nations will ban the French burre in retaliation! No coissants, french fries or baggettes (nor matza)!! Where does it end? No kaputtas (long black coats worn by Orthodox Jews. No wearing tallasim to shull in the street to avoid prohibitted carrying on the Sabbath. What about a nun's habit? A Seiike turbin? What about a widow's veil? Mormon underwear with 7 holes?

Myself, I want a ban on French accordian busker music and any late-night reruns of movies with Maurice Chevallier singing and dancing!!! The French have done themselves, democracy and the West a great disservice by this show of intollerance.

[Matt1234]

Yes most terrorist like the Ideal of a place to hide bombs. Lets see the great god allah says go into a room full of kids and blow yourself up. You are a then one with Allah.

Murder is murder even if your a muslim. How many people (Cilvilians) did muslims murder in the last 2 weeks?????????

I have Muslim friends and they say Islamist are not true muslims. That the bombers do not go to Allah.

[Crystal]

Good! I'm glad to see that at least France is brave enough and smart enough to stand up to this Muslim attempt at domination! Too bad our government and president can't be as smart! When you go to another country to live, you should adopt that country's ways and laws... If you don't want to, then go back to your own country where you will be free to do what you want. To see the incongruousness of this, go to a Muslim country where you would not be free to do what you want! Oh no! You would have to wear scarves and act in a manner that is befitting the Muslim way! So why do the Muslims come over here and force us to accept their ways? Seems a little two-faced to me! If you want to keep you ways, then you must respect ours and not insist on changing them to suit yours!

[Eve]

Islam is dangerous because its followers are loyal to their religion and fellow Muslims and have no allegiance to any country. They have no problem using terror as a tool against fellow citizens. Wait until they use the burka to commit a terrorist act in a mall or amusement park. Only then will people's tune change.

[Uncle Kevin]

So, the highway patrol pulls you over. "License, please?" You show your license. There are two eyes in the photo. "Sorry, but that's not you." Whoops, off you go to the nearest office to provide a thumbprint to prove that it is indeed you.
Gee, sorry that you are going to be late for your appointment/meeting/assignation. Yup, religious freedom exists in America, but you have to be a little pragmatic, o.k.?

[Andacar]

You're right, Rise! I hadn't thought of that. While we're at it, we should ban all long coats, big pocketbooks, briefcases, shopping bags, dusters and fanny packs. You never know, they could be hiding a weapon after all.

[Brenda]

I agree with Rise statement , it could be a man under neath with a bomb or gun. They need to ban the Burqa, although I am concerned about the the upheaval it could cause and a rise in terrorist attacks.

[JJohnson]

While it might be fun to ban certain elements of clothing - certain aspects of religion / faith -

That's a dangerous line to tread. It's one step into fascism. In the past, Europe has been quite innovative in persecution of religion.

World War 2 anyone? ( Do yourecall - the *other half* of the Children of Abraham were targeted.... )

But further - what will we be doing when they decide no faith whatsoever? Religion is too destructive to the world, leads to conflict & violence. Everyone must follow their ways - etc....

This is why I'm glad to be an American. Monstrosities like this - is why I am positive - our country is the greatest in the world.

[Yasha Hivits]

Why is it always assumed that muslim men are "oppressing" their women by imposing the burka?
Those who are able to step out of the feminist-saturated, "modern" western mindset would be surprised to learn that it is very often, if not the majority of cases the WOMEN themselves that pressure each other to wear burka, niqab, etc. and that the men, in secret, actually don't care so much for the idea. In some of these ultra-orthadox societies, women who don't don the full covering are often austricized by their peers, deemed unloyal to their husbands, bad examples to their children, etc. etc., in not physically identifying with this very visualcultural symbol, however inaberrant and unconform to Islam it may be. They are often forced, due to the sociatal and peer pressure, to conform or face social exclusion and disadvantage. Again, by women, not by men.

Get over it, feminists! the current spread of the burka is WOMEN'S doing, not men's.

As for the non-issue of men wearing burkas as a means to smuggle weapons, this is just beyond absurd. Perhaps it has happened in the past, I know of no example, but even so, what of it?

Keep an open mind people, for the sake of what is left of civility.

[Roberto Torres]

This is great news, the Burka is unnecessary and is often used by men to bypass security measures!

[Rise]

Burkas MUST be banned in public - how else can anyone know if it's a man under there - with a gun or a bomb?

[basementfrog]

They should ban rainjackets.