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Baroness Warsi defends right to wear a burka
If a woman has a choice, then she’s not oppressed, says Tory chairman
The Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi has stepped into the ongoing burka debate, arguing that the wearing of a full-face veil does not prevent Muslim women "engaging in everyday life".
Lady Warsi, the first Muslim woman ever to serve in a UK cabinet, argued that far from being a symbol of oppression, as the burka's critics suggest, the wearing of a veil is a Muslim woman's right.
"Why should we tell women what to wear? What it boils down to is choice. If women don't have a choice over what to wear then they are oppressed.
"But if a woman has a choice, and she chooses to wear whatever she chooses to wear then she's not oppressed is she? She's choosing what she wants."
Lady Warsi's intervention follows that of Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman who said last month that the burka "confers dignity" on women and can even be "empowering", and Immigration Minister Damian Green who said it would be "un-British" to prevent women from wearing the full-face veil.
It suggests the coalition government wants to quash any further backbench pressure to bring Britain into line with France, where a ban was recently voted in by the lower house of the French parliament.
Tory MP Philip Hollobone, who hopes to introduce a Private Member's Bill to ban the burka in public, argues: "Part of the British way of life is walking down the street, smiling at people and saying hello, whether you know them or not.
"You cannot have this everyday human interaction if you cover your face. These people are saying that they don't want to be part of our way of society."
Lady Warsi's comments are unlikely to put an end to the debate. Last week, for The First Post, writer Antonia Bland defended Jeremy Clarkson's remarks about his encounter with a woman, dressed in a burka, who was wearing a red G-string and stockings underneath (she fell over in the street in front of him, he claimed). ·
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I'm afraid the whole idea of "choice" is completely misplaced here. Baroness Warsi says, "...a woman has a choice, and she chooses to wear whatever she chooses to wear then she's not oppressed is she? She's choosing what she wants," and many agree with her. She is clearly making the issue one of choice. So extending that argument to the other end of the spectrum, I could just as easily say, as a woman, I'm oppressed because I can't legally walk down the street or appear on a public beach topless, but a man can! I can get thrown out of a supermarket if I go in my pyjamas, or a restaurant if I'm barefooted. If the argument is that women should be free to wear whatever they want, then that argument has to cut across the *entire* spectrum of dress/undress. I'm sure the Baroness and many others would *not* argue for my "right" to wear as little as I like, or dress as "inappropriately" as I choose.
I am not presenting an anti-burka POV, but an anti-selectivity POV. The argument for choice in dress must extend to *all* choices of dress (or undress), otherwise the argument fails and the use of "choice" simply becomes a means to further an agenda. True freedom of choice (in this case) should apply to *all* choices.
If a woman agrees to beatings by her husband, would the Baroness be as supportive?
The full-face veil is unquestionably a symbol of Muslim fundamentalism. A few years ago, few young women in Egypt wore the headscarf or veil; now with the end of liberalism it is rare to see a woman's face on the streets of Cairo. Britain, France, Australia and all other countries facing this issue should stand up for their way of life and say "NO", "NON", or "NO WAY MATE" for the safety, security, and freedom of all their citizens.
Politicions should be careful not to get involved in contentious issues.Particulary as the "Burka" is a very delicate subject within all parties.In the case of Warsi,she should know better as she is an appointed politicion and has never been elected to her high office.So keep your trap shut women!
What about the Banks that ban crash helmets, sunglasses and hoodies? I would expect the veil to be added to this list otherwise banks will be infringing some EEC or UN rule.
Its time the Christians and other faiths that are part of the old British culture stood up and be counted because it will be to late when Britain is a Muslim state. Which is the aim of the Muslims.
I suppose the question is how much freedom do these women have in coming to the decision to wear one of these items. They have already undergone a lifetime of brainwashing by the males in their family and their society.
Standard Tory confusion over what constitutes 'choice' - ie if I as a wealthy and privileged member of society have a choice, then surely everybody else has a choice.
Were I to dismount a motorcycle and enter a bank or other such establishment, I would, rightly, be required to remove my legally necessary helmet for security and identification purposes. Could we please have a little equality of thought upon this matter before the idiot end of the P.C. lobby gets it's grubby mitts on yet another piece of culture? In this instance I fear there is no choice.
Baroness Warsi defends the burqa and "Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman ... said last month that the burka "confers dignity" on women".
The Burqa is not a requirement of the Quran, but effectively is merely a fashion statement.
Caroline - wearing the burqa effectively says "I have absolutely no intention of making even the slightest attempt to integrate into British society. I have come to live in a foreign country but I intend to try to continue living as if I were still in my country of origin!"
However, if I were to try to go everwhere, and do everything, wearing either a full-face balaclave or a full-face motorcycle helmet I would rapidly be prevented from doing so.
Please can we Brits have equality with our Islamic VISITORS?
Quote:
""But if a woman has a choice, and she chooses to wear whatever she chooses to wear then she's not oppressed is she? She's choosing what she wants." ..............................................
I think others have said the same. If the choice is made by an indoctrinated woman or a woman who feels under pressure to conform it is not a FREE choice. If burkas etc are so good for women, why do millions upon millions of non-Muslim women fail to realise that****? Why don't they all wise up and cover up? Warsi talks out of her arsi................................................
I don't say "British is everywhere and always best" because I am not in a position to make such a judgment (though a lot of observation makes me think British is not too bad). But Britishness is the way of the Brits. and I for one want to keep it much as it is. Foreigners are welcome here but when in Rome they must, as we all must, behave in ways acceptable to the Romans. Not like the Romans but acceptable to. ...................
****I'm sure there are exceptions but a few exceptions mean nothing. There are plenty of weirdos doing all sorts of things.
The choice indeed, but in what? In not to integrate and eventually to produce multitudes of burqa clad women in Britain or anywhere?
Why would any one want to hide his face?
Good for Baroness Warsi. The veil, chador, purdah or whatever we usually wrongly choose to call the garb in question was worn in the South Yemen during the most intense terrorist actions against Great Britain. As the operatives for FLOSY and the NLF [Front for the Liberation Of South Yemen & National Liberation Front] blew up and shot soldiers, sent letter and parcel bombs to the Governor and British civilian women openly carried the Stirling Sub Machine Gun as they shopped in Steamer Point and Crater districts so the Arab women walked the streets dressed in their Chador. Britain's forces accepted it then and I cannot see why they shouldn't see why that shouldn't be the norm today.
As for Mr Hollobone's remarks; he serves as a Special Constable - surely he greets all with the same warm greeting, without fear or favour? What he is suggesting of his manner is surely not in the best interests of his carrying a warrant card.
I agree that women should be allowed to wear the veil but lets be clear it is a pre Islamic practice and like the Syrians are currently saying, is not mentioned in the Koran.. It was fashionable in the Sassanian times amongst rich Persian women who coveted pale skin..
In fact Zaiuddin Sardar has posited that to be Islamic it should be the men who wear the covering in honour of the Bedu who followed Mohammed (MPBUH).
Unfortunately like mini skirts, it is blindly followed as a fashion/religious icon and Muslims seem to not be able to distill religion from a cultural uniform that is enforced by the very sexually neurotic and puritan Wahabis.
Surely the flaw in Lady Warsi's support for the burka is her use of the word "choice". How do we know how many women are acting out of personal choice and how many are being pressurised? Of course, we cannot ever be sure since those who are not acting independently could never admit it!
I personally find someone covering their face in public quite intimidating and certainly not helpful in achieving integration - or are there those in the Muslim community who do not wish this to happen?
The burka is unbritish. It is obvious that muslims would vote for it.
Are those that ware it mail, female, or crminals and how can we tell