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Dawkins: my revulsion for the 'bin-liner' burka
Arch-atheist Richard Dawkins accused of Islamophobia for his views on the burka
The prominent atheist academic Richard Dawkins has waded into the controversy over the burka, calling it a "full bin-liner" and describing his "visceral revulsion" for it. However, Dawkins, a libertarian as well as an atheist, stopped short of calling for the all-enveloping Islamic veil to be banned.
Dawkins was giving an interview to the Radio Times to promote his forthcoming documentary, Faith Schools Menace, in which he calls for an end to the public subsidy of faith schools.
Surprisingly, Dawkins admits faith schools have made a major contribution to mass education in Britain, saying the founding of schools by the Church of England and the Catholic church in the 19th century was a "great philanthropic effort".
But he has less time for Islam's treatment of women. He described his "visceral revulsion" when he sees "one of the full bin-liner things" - a reference to the burka.
Dawkins later told the Daily Mail: "I do feel visceral revulsion at the burka because for me it is a symbol of the oppression of women."
But a spokeswoman for the Muslim Association of Britain dismissed talk of oppression and accused Dawkins of "Islamophobia". She told the Daily Telegraph: "This kind of thing has been on the rise for some time. Britain is a diverse and free society. It is a woman's choice if she wishes to wear a burka... Why does it matter to this man what a woman is wearing?"
Dawkins's "visceral revulsion" is in marked contrast to that of senior members of the British government. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said the burka "confers dignity" on women and can even be "empowering", while Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi said "if a woman has a choice, and she chooses to wear whatever she chooses to wear then she's not oppressed is she?"
But, like the coalition government, Dawkins is against a ban on the burka: "As a liberal I would hesitate to propose a blanket ban on any style of dress because of the implications for individual liberty and freedom of choice," he explains.
Here he is at odds with the vast majority of British people. A recent survey showed that 67 per cent of British voters want to follow the example of France, where the lower house of Parliament last month banned the wearing of a burka in public places. ·
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Most Christians are born to Christian parents. Most Jews/Muslims/Hindus etc. just the same. Can anyone really be so dumb they cannot see religion relies on, exists only because of, indoctrination? So if a woman says she wears the burka as a matter of free choice can we be sure she is a free woman? Common sense says probably not, so on balance we should ban the burka, in the interests of individual freedom. Same with faith schools. And I'd question the rights of parents to take their kids to faith schools at the weekends. We accept a social responsibility for the welfare of kids (e.g. no smacking, child welfare workers). Why should we permit pernicious religious indoctrination? It does more harm than smacking.
Dawkins used to be a respected scientist.
In the interests of equality between the sexes, should not men be allowed to wear the same ridiculous garb if they so choose? Blair, for instance, would look much more acceptable hidden away like that, if only he could be persuaded..........
Everybody has a right to stand at any totem pole that pleases them. A problem with religions and nationalism is that they put others on the wrong side for a worthless reason.
Michael Jose - and why should we have to listen to your inane squawkings?
Let all politicians wear burkas. Then we shall be spared seeing them, and when we turn off the sound, it will be perfect.
I agree, to ban this item of clothing in the UK goes against the freedom of choice we enjoy. It isn't an offensive means of dress within our culture. I don't know if the majority of women who wear it, consider it an imposition, however, given time there will be a gradual watering down of cultural differences to the point where we will all look, sound and dress the same way. very boring. Oh and faith schools. Keep the buildings but ban religious teaching/indoctrination in all schools. If parents are that interested in religion let them take their children to the buildings (Catholics call them churches, diyers call them Ikea) where their particular faith is practised at the weekend.
Well, well. I normally have no time at all for the squawkins of Dawkins, but "bin liner burka" is spot on. At least he has the courage to go for a fighting religion...except Islam is a religion of peace, I don't know what made me type that...repression and violence from a religion of peace as our supposed world leaders like to call it? Oh well, the truth had to get out some time...