Lawmakers against Burqa and Naqab in Europien Countries

Lawmakers in Belgium vote to ban the Burqa in public places. France likely to follow

A step in the wrong direction

      The lower House of the Belgian parliament has overwhelmingly voted for a Bill that seeks to ban the burqa or the naqab on streets, parks,  sports grounds and buildings meant for public use or to provide services. The French are also contemplating a similar move. Supporters of the ban raise two issues. One, it is a symbol of oppression of Muslim women and is a violation of their human rights. Two, the naqab covers the face of the person and conceals her identity. This poses a risk to public security. The arguments are fallacious. The ban is likely to polarise relations between Muslims and non-Muslims not just in Europe but elsewhere also.

          We need to make a difference between the voluntary use of burqa and its imposition by the clergy or community elders. The individual must have the choice to decide what she want to wear. Not to allow her that choice is a violation of her freedom.Equally, the law must provide her recourse to resistany  imposition of burqa. but a state-sponsored ban on the burqa would only reinforce the view that Muslims in Europe are being targeted for looking different from the dominant majority.

        Religious and social markers are adopted by sections of minority communities to carve out a separate identity for themselves. The burqa is one such marker. This could be due to the social insecurity resulting from being a minority and a fear of being subsumed by the culture of the majority. These communities need to be engaged. But the terms of engagement can't be unilateral. It is impossible to achieve social integration by legislating public policies that are likely to reinforce the insecurities of being a minority. As for public safety, a person with a naqab could always be asked to show her face to a proper authority if and when necessary.