In a free society, people should be able to make their own choices about what they want to wear.
The problem with the niqab is that it a dress form which comes highly recommended by the male followers of a certain religion.
Oh, don't get me wrong. The male members of that religion would never wear it themselves, it would cover up their macho beards.
No, that identity-concealing fashion of dress is only imposed on the women. Impostition need not be physical; it can be social, coming from the society and even from relatives and friends. and it can also come from communty leaders or representatives of religion.
There is a certain pressure to conform, with certain penatlies to be paid for non-conformity, although here in Oz, we don't expect those penalties to be as drastic as they are in some other countries.
But sometimes we are shocked when they are.
I support freedom. freedom of expression and freedom of dress. I'm still having a little trouble supporting the right of any person to walk the street wearing a mask so I cannot see their face.
For those of you who support the right of people to do this, I'd ask you how you would feel if there were a religion which encouraged its male members to wear a mask in public and that the women were not encouraged to?
it's just an excercise in thinking about attitude. Well, how would you feel?
