Ban the ban

The French National Assembly's committee has recommended banning the wearing of the Niqab / Burqa / face-veil in public. The recommendation is likely to become law. Other European countries are also considering it. Europe is not alone. Syria banned it from schools and universities. It is banned in Turkey.

In Syria this is more an act of self-preservation by the ruling party. Allow the face-veil and you are down the slippery slope at the end of which the Muslim Brothers take over the country. The rationale in Turkey, as defined by the constitution, is that it is a secular country. The army is charged with making sure that stays that way. France is rather similar to Turkey in this sense. I believe religious symbols are banned in public buildings. Even crosses. Probably not in churches though. Anyway, that is the official reason.

And still, I don't buy it. There are 5 million Muslims in France. Not all of them as well integrated into the French fabric of society as Zinadine Zidane. Let's not forget that as recently as 2002 Jean-Marie Le Pen came second in the Presidential elections. I believe there is at least a smidgen of perceived self preservation in l'Assemblee nationale's move. As they would say: a democracy needs to have the means to defend itself.

So why not here in the UK? Simple. Wearing whatever one wants is a basic human right. Now I agree that there is likely to be a minority of Muslim women in Britain who are forced by their families to hide their face behind the veil. Banning the veil is likely to help them [although it may back-fire; they would likely be completely forbidden to leave the house, which may be worse for them]. Still, it's not worth it. You see, I am afraid of a different slippery slope; the one where the authorities ban more and more things, further and further limiting our human rights. So I say: "ban the ban".

PS 610km down. 390km to go.