Should the Burqa be banned in Australia

[nero_bolt]

Should the Burqa and Niqab be banned in Australia?

[cherry*135]

rabbit: But, how did you know our diet would consist of baklava? Are you psychic?

If you had read this whole thread, you would have seen where that (incorrect spelling of balaclava) arose already.

[***super_nova***]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@azureline** wrote:

Some people need to decide on a reason to ban it, they can't continually change the reasons..........................

Is it a terrorist threat? Yes

does it affront you? No

does it intimidate you? No

Australia is a hot country. Irrelevant

Women who wear it are oppressed. In many instances, yes.

beaten? stoned? Can be. Probably for other reasons though, not necessarily for not wearing a burqa.

can't tell their gender? No telling who or what's under there.

can't wear a full face helmet or balaclava to the bank or servo? I have seen signs on banks and servos asking for those type of coverings removed and have no problem with that.

can't identify them? Not unless the veil is lifted.

For me, none of the above.

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How is it a terrorist threat?

where are these women who you know to be oppressed?

can't tell a woman is wearing a burqa? men walk differently to women, have different body shapes (but why do you need to know?)

Veils are removed for identification.

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Actually, I think that man wearing burqa would stick out as a sore thumb.

And it reminded me of an incident when many years ago I flew with my, then about 3 years old daughter.  We sat next to a lovely very young and feminine tranny, who my daughter happily chatted with all the way from Sydney to Melbourne.  When later that day somebody asked my daughter if she liked the journey, and she said yes, I mentioned that she had a very nice time talking to the lovely lady.  My daughter giggled and said :  "but mum, it was a man". 

[i-need-a-martini]

Can someone please exlain why a terrorist would bother to dress up in a burqa if he intends to carry out an act of terrorism?

1. If he wants to bomb something, a backpack is the most obvious way to do it.
2. If he wants to behead someone, struggling to get a machete out of your jeans through a burqa would be comedic to watch.
3. If he wants to bash some infidel, he isn't going to get far running off with the burqa flapping between his legs. I have an image of Ednas warning about the cape in The Incredibles...
4. If he wants to get into Parliament House hiding some weapon in folds of fabric, he will light up like a Christmas Tree getting through security.
5. If he wants to get to an aeroplane to blow it out of the sky, the full body scan is going to send the security and customs staff into a frenzy when they see a peni-s in a dress.
6. And if he wants to hide his identity to get in and out of the country it would be much riskier to choose the name and dress of someone of the opposite sex when he can easily grow a beard and get a false passport in his own sex.

The argument is hilarious.

[punch*drunk]

Personally I dont see it as a terrorism threat, just a security issue in general due to the inability to see a persons face.

I can understand why people feel confronted by them, we live in a society where its extremely rare to have to talk to someone with a face covering because faces would normally only be covered by somebody trying to hide their identity for one reason or another. More often than not because of a crime.

The Carnita Matthews episode is a perfect example of why faces need to be visible in certain circumstances. If 5 burqa clad people entered Parliament House (for example) and one was caught on camera committing a crime there is no way of telling who was the culprit, even if they are identified on entering.

Its actually a pretty easy way for anyone, male or female, muslim or non muslim, to get away with any kind of crime.

I think its a bit much for people to expect a total ban, but I think there are definitely places where they probably shouldnt be allowed.

I dont know if the women are being forced to wear them, if they oppressed or if they are being abused, I hope they arent. But I'm pretty sure domestic abuse is rampant in all societies and cultures and its a pretty easy way to cover it up. I know some women who probably would have liked a burqa to hide behind rather than having to explain the bruises and black eyes to family and friends.

[cherry*135]

The Carnita Matthews episode is a perfect example of why faces need to be visible in certain circumstances. If 5 burqa clad people entered Parliament House (for example) and one was caught on camera committing a crime there is no way of telling who was the culprit, even if they are identified on entering.

There is a new Law in NSW and WA ( and possibly other states) that was a result of Carnita Matthews. The burqa doesn't need to be banned, for that reason. Just a law change to give police and other authorities the power to demand a person lift their veil for identification purposes.

The policeman never asked Carminta to identify herself.

 What sort of crime would a burqa wearing person commit inside Parliament house? If they physically attacked or shot someone then security would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

If security cameras are being monitored live in Parliament, then the person monitoring them can contact security in the area of any disturbance and the security staff would be able to intercept anyone doing anything untoward.

So far no burqa wearing person has entered Parliament...so the likelihood of 5 at the same time is pretty low.

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@am*3 wrote:

 What sort of crime would a burqa wearing person commit inside Parliament house? If they physically attacked or shot someone then security would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

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That's right. What's a couple of Politicians here and there apart from all the blood on the floor.

[karliandjacko]

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@am*3 wrote:

The Carnita Matthews episode is a perfect example of why faces need to be visible in certain circumstances. If 5 burqa clad people entered Parliament House (for example) and one was caught on camera committing a crime there is no way of telling who was the culprit, even if they are identified on entering.

There is a new Law in NSW and WA ( and possibly other states) that was a result of Carnita Matthews. The burqa doesn't need to be banned, for that reason. Just a law change to give police and other authorities the power to demand a person lift their veil for identification purposes.

The policeman never asked Carminta to identify herself.

 What sort of crime would a burqa wearing person commit inside Parliament house? If they physically attacked or shot someone then security would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

If security cameras are being monitored live in Parliament, then the person monitoring them can contact security in the area of any disturbance and the security staff would be able to intercept anyone doing anything untoward.

So far no burqa wearing person has entered Parliament...so the likelihood of 5 at the same time is pretty low.

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Unless this hysteria prompts a bunch of women wearing burqas or niqabis to go there for a bit of a demonstration against the fear mongers.

[karliandjacko]

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

 What sort of crime would a burqa wearing person commit inside Parliament house? If they physically attacked or shot someone then security would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

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That's right. What's a couple of Politicians here and there apart from all the blood on the floor.

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I think security would have a lot to answer for, having let armed people into PH to commit such a crime.

[cherry*135]

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@rabbitearbandicoot wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

 What sort of crime would a burqa wearing person commit inside Parliament house? If they physically attacked or shot someone then security would be down on them like a ton of bricks.

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That's right. What's a couple of Politicians here and there apart from all the blood on the floor.

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They would be screened before entry. Not sure what the screening entails at PH.

When travelling overseas entering any public building where large amounts of peope likely to gather ( Art Galleries, Empire State Buidling, 9/11 memorial etc) every person is screened.. pockets emptied, bags scanned, no water bottles allowed in. Much the same as airport security. You have to wear or carry your coat ( no checking in your coat to be picked up when you leave.)

The chance of getting a knife or gun in is 0.

Those were the only types of crimes I could think of  for PH...anything worth stealing should be secured.

I assume any people who turn up all agitated and looking read for attacking someone would be barred from entry.

[i-need-a-martini]

You get the same level of screening at PH that you do at airports - bags, bulky coats, pocket contents, belts and sometimes shoes go through an xray machine. Plus you pass through a metal detector. Plus every other person gets a hand held scan run across them.

A bit hard to get a weapon in.