The niqab is a misogynist monstrosity

If a woman genuinely wants to wear the veil then I have no problem with that but if, as I suspect, many wear it because they are told to by their male relatives or husband, then I think that is wrong.

As has been mentioned above the answer is education, for both boys and girls, and hopefully the custom will die out.

There was a program on radio this lunchtime on this topic. A young woman talked about her determination to wear the niqab, saying she wouldn't take it off even if we paid her.

I wasn't all that impressed at her pious tone. Reminded me of the custom in America for young women to wear a chastity ring and pledge themselves to their fathers, or something horrible like that.

But Julie Bindell, speaking against, got on my nerves as well, going on about patriarchy and all that stuff. In fact, I found myself saying 'Oh for God's sake' out loud.

Overall I do not want the niqab worn in this country but not for feminist reasons (although I am a feminist). I think it gives the wearer an unfair advantage having their faces covered whilst everyone else's is open for scrutiny.

I go with Victoria Coren on this. Its not right to assume that all those women wearing the veil have been subjected to pressure to do so, "but do not realise this fact".

IMO that is a grossly arrogant point of view and it is demeaning to the person involved to suggest this.

With regard to this attitude shown by those with no experience of the issues; it would almost encourage me to undertake the activity, which others have suggested I am doing only "because I am oppressed and don't know it."

I find The National Secular Society seem to be becoming increasingly intolerant of others views of late and that worries me.
Militant intolerance of legitimate and non harmful activities is not the kind of society I want.

What no one seems to take on board is that there have been a number of Islamic scholars and religious leaders who have said, quite unequivically there is nothing in the Koran that says women should wear the veil and that this is purely a cultural requirement in some communities.

I think it is time that we asserted that in the Western world our culture has always places a high value on seeing the face. The hero/heroine shows their courage by standing straight with their head held high. You hide your head in shame, those who hide their faces are seen as dodgy and dubious. Look at the popularity of the Gothic novel in the early 18th century where the villain is a cowled monk or some other evil doer who will always hide their face in a cloak. The Western European cultural norm is to show your face and those who do not are instinctively seen as being other.

I think is quite reasonable for us to say that we have every respect for those who wish to wear the niqab, burka, call it what you will but that they must accept that if they insist on wearing it at all times then that will exclude them from large swathes of normal lives. There can be no place for the veiling the face in education at any level, in the courts, in the health service as either, staff or patient, any job where the majority of people in this country expect to see someone face to face or where security is an issue.

There is a man in the UK who continually asserts his right to walk around in public with no clothes on at all, (except socks and shoes). He spends most of his time in prison because, essentially, he is offending cultural norms that people are expected to cover there sexual organs in public. I am not suggesting that those who wear the veil should be imprisoned, but sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, or vice versa

The Qu'ran doesn't call for women to wear the niqab but generations of tradition in some areas do. You can't expect the women to give them up overnight as many genuinely believe that they must wear them for modesty, honour....whatever. They need to be re-educated. The Imans need to teach it from the pulpit....not just to the women but to the men as well.

A local Iman decided to challenge the tradition of a woman walking behind her husband. He preached against it and openly challenged couples in the street when he saw it happening. He educated the people and showed them it wasn't the teaching of Mohammed but of man. It took a while and he had to persevere but no couples in his area now follow that tradition.

I agree with her. I read this
article in the Observer, but couldn't reconcile it with my instincts on this matter. (hope the link works!)