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AIBU

Strip Off!

(159 Posts)
Jalima Thu 25-Aug-16 11:17:01

I sometimes wear long cotton trousers and top plus a hat on the beach; I like a bit of sunshine for Vitamin D but prefer to cover up than use excessive amounts of suncream.

If I go to France will I be made to strip off to my swimsuit by armed police in order to respect good morals?

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/burkini-swimwear-ban-france-nice-armed-police-hijab-muslim-a7206776.html
Or is it just women wearing headscarves?

I know that France is jittery and for good reason, but is this the right way forward?
Will this not exacerbate an already tense situation?

Jalima Thu 25-Aug-16 19:45:01

Watching Nadiya Hussain last night was very interesting, and emotional, her hair covered with a coloured hijab and her facial expressions are wonderful!

Anya Thu 25-Aug-16 19:45:43

The black outfit with a covering to the face is the niqab suzied I see them around here occasionally and in Birmingham quite often. The only place I've seen a burka was in Kuala Lumpur.

petra Thu 25-Aug-16 20:37:03

The only place I've seen a burka was in southend hospital.

Deedaa Thu 25-Aug-16 21:23:30

I thought the sight of a woman being forced to remove clothing by a group of armed men was appalling.

Katek Thu 25-Aug-16 21:37:40

I can't expose my skin to the sun due to a condition called polymorphic light eruption. I suppose France is now off my list of potential holiday destinations ..... or should I sit on the beach and make myself unwell in order to comply with French law? B..... ridiculous situation.

Katek Thu 25-Aug-16 21:39:46

Hope all the Muslim ladies turn up en masse at a beach somewhere wearing wetsuits - they're remarkably similar to a burkini

granjura Thu 25-Aug-16 21:45:48

would it be nice if lots and lots of women- irrespective of religion, race or ehthnicity- turned up at the beach wearing burkinis or leggings and long t-shirts- and why not, wetsuits- to show support. If I wasn't going awyy on a long planned holiday, I would definitely try and organise this.

M0nica Thu 25-Aug-16 22:23:45

I believe M&S sell burkinis. I have been contemplating whether I should buy one, go to Nice, wear it and when the police come point out that I am not muslim and I am wearing it to protect my skin from the sun.

European culture has always placed a high value on being able to see the face. In literature, mythology and culture, those who hide their faces are seen as suspicious, deviant, possibly criminal; ghosts who will not show their faces, visitors in dead of night, the faces muffled, secret messengers etc etc.

Jalima Thu 25-Aug-16 22:52:02

She was only wearing a headscarf though, and they made her take her long-sleeved top off too.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 25-Aug-16 23:18:19

I think France has decided that they don't want the women-repressing aspects of a religion, on show in their country. Maybe they gave a point. It's their society.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 25-Aug-16 23:19:12

have a point

Jalima Thu 25-Aug-16 23:22:59

hmm ordering a woman at gunpoint to strip off to respect morals, then fining her? confused

If they want things to change this is not the way to go about it.

rosesarered Thu 25-Aug-16 23:23:21

Does this mean that a nun can't have a wander down the beach in France?

Jalima Thu 25-Aug-16 23:31:02

Well, that would be interesting, wouldn't it!
A nun being threatened with pepper spray by armed police and forced to strip shock
And fined for not respecting good morals.

Nelliemoser Thu 25-Aug-16 23:36:37

Josephine Liptrott
Yesterday at 10:05 · London ·
(copied from FaceBook)

"Just to be absolutely clear, only ONE of these is illegal on French beaches."

Anya Thu 25-Aug-16 23:45:53

You've not travelled in Muslim countries then petra.

Nellie I saw that photo on FB too. It makes the point very clearly doesn't it?

Anya Thu 25-Aug-16 23:59:14

This mace me smile

rosesarered Fri 26-Aug-16 00:06:12

I must be the only poster who doesn't do Facebook/Twitter etc

petra Fri 26-Aug-16 08:29:30

Anya
Yes I have. Egypt, Morroco, Tunisia, Turkey ( secular) i saw the Niqab in all of them, of course, but not the burka.

gettingonabit Fri 26-Aug-16 08:37:03

Loads of burkas round here. UK city.

gettingonabit Fri 26-Aug-16 08:39:05

..and niqabs, and other forms of muslim dress. Men wearing muslim dress too, and kids on way to mosque. Kids' school uniform comprises a black headscarf and long dress if wished.

obieone Fri 26-Aug-16 08:52:53

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ban_on_face_covering

www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/01/france-burqa-ban-upheld-human-rights-court

Lillie Fri 26-Aug-16 08:56:15

Yes, gettingonabit, that is where France is very different from us in what is prohibited in the way of religious attire. I assume their fear is that such clothing aligns those wearing it with terrorism.
I had a young French girl from Normandy staying with us a few months ago and she was horrified to see women wearing the niqab in London as she had assumed it was illegal. If that is how the next French generation are being brought up to view things, then I fear such decisions may well bring about disaster.

suzied Fri 26-Aug-16 08:56:39

I am confused- what is difference- burka, hijab, niquab? I know one is a head covering, and one is a face covering, and not sure what the other one is- is it the whole body thing? Which is which? I see them all here in London.

obieone Fri 26-Aug-16 08:57:22

www.theguardian.com/world/french-burqa-and-niqab-ban