Get your hijab off!

[Sassy]

No more nuns.

Do nuns cover their faces?
If the ban includes all head wear then it has to be so.
But as far as I was aware it is head wear which conceals your face.
But if that is the way, then so be it. Fair for everyone.

[Brownie]

A hijab doesn't cover the face.   The journalist was not wearing a burqa but a hijab.

[Sassy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13038095


Not quite all head coverings, see link

I thought it was just those which covered the face...

[Brownie]

Thanks for the link NS, which clarifies things.  There is a world of difference between head covering and full face covering.

However, I particularly noticed this from the link you posted:

France
A ban on Muslim headscarves and other "conspicuous" religious symbols at state schools was introduced in 2004, and received overwhelming political and public support in a country where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law.

I understand and appreciate the separation of state and religion but still, France is comprised of people with diverse religious beliefs and cultures.  The ban seems wrong to me, nevertheless it is up to the French and as nobody is harmed, not my business.  I'm glad we don't have such a ban here though.  It is good, imo, for schoolchildren to mix freely with those from many different cultural and religious backgrounds;  if they do that they will not attach undue importance to anyone who wears something that they don't wear,  in fact they will hardly notice it.

[JP]

Unless your cultural or religions background opposes mixing freely.

[trippymonkey]

cough cough - ISLAM - cough cough !!!!!!
OH Sorry about that bit of coughing there. !!!

[Brownie]

Unless your cultural or religions background opposes mixing freely.

I've not come across many who don't mix freely except the ultra-orthodox Jewish communities (eg Chassidic).
They not only have distinctive dress but live in areas almost exclusively populated by their own community and have their own schools.  They mix with people of other cultures, in business, if they have to seek medical advice or go to hospital and other situations, are extremely friendly too, but they do not mix socially at all.

Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, non-Orthodox Jews, Zoroastrians (probably others I can't think of atm), all mix at school, work and socially and are extremely friendly and hospitable.

[wigginhall]

The idea of banning all headwear is quite comical, really, although the original story is very nasty.   What an idiot.

[Steve H]

While I am not defending anyone, what is wrong with his comments. Surely he is entitled to an opinion.

Of course he is.  So was the late, unlamented Colin Jordan, the British Nazi, and so is that ghastly Hopkins woman, and so is Ken Ham, the ultra-fundy who founded 'Answers in Genesis', and so is Nigel Farage, and they are all also wrong, and mostly an utter disgrace to humanity.  "S/he's entitled to her/his opinion" is the most fatuous, brainless, pointless comment it is possible to make.  Yes, everyone is so entitled,: so what?

[JP]

Hmmm, so observing and commenting on what he did is equivalent to Nazism etc. What a load of bollocks.

People are too thin skinned these days. Had Dave Allen done his show now I expect there would be mass leftie protests outside and he would have been arrested and jailed.

[JP]

Of course not Brownie, I expect you haven't. Only some Jews. Nobody else. Nobody.

[Brownie]

I'm not saying there aren't any small exclusive, rather extremist groups who don't mix outside but they are very few and far between.  I believe some of the Brethren live like that though they interract with people outside their faith because they have to.  I wouldn't make such groups illegal as long as they don't interfere with anyone else - and they don't.  This is a free country after all and diversity is celebrated.  I happen to like that, living in London and working in central London until I retired, I know no different.

However I suppose, or I assume, your attitude concerns fear of extremist would-be-terrorist Muslims.  Like Kelvin McKenzie.  I wish people would come right out and say it.