Don’t Ban the Burka, Belgium

The debate over face coverings is all about xenophobia, not security

Both Belgium and France have passed parliamentary votes that could lead to banning Muslim women from wearing burkas in public places, imposing fines and jail time on those who do.  The burka is a way of dress that veils a woman’s entire face and body. Politicians have claimed that it is a form of female subjugation and that they present a security threat.

The security threat offered by these women is lost on me, as I presume it is on you too.  However, the validity behind the argument that the burkas violate gender equality is far more apparent. Having said that, if a woman chooses to wear the burka, without pressure from family members or spouse, where is the harm in allowing it?

It is often reported that when asked why they are wearing the burka, such women reply that they do so freely out of a desire for religious piety and, when barred from wearing it, have laid claims that their religious rights and freedoms have been trampled upon.  This does not mirror an oppressed woman without a voice; it is a woman carrying out agency to protect her religious rights.

If women are being forced to wear the garment, these countries should instead use resources to probe such situations and ensure that women aren’t being forcefully subjugated.

Moreover, the argument that it is “too difficult to accommodate these women” (i.e.: driver’s license photos or public swimming pools), is not all that convincing. Think about all the ways governments accommodate those who are handicapped.  I understand this must be done because their situations are irreversible, but people with deep religious convictions cannot change that easily, and should not be forced to.  Fining or criminally charging someone for practicing a religion without harm to others is a ludicrous notion and is a violation of religious freedoms and human rights.

This self-righteous crusade against the burka should be recognized for what it really is – a reflection of xenophobic attitudes from the European right.  A recent article by Bruce Crumley on France’s move to ban the burka, on Time magazine’s website, points out that some observers believe that French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s dedication to unveiling the face of Muslim women is a ploy to recapture votes from France’s right.   Sarkozy lost conservative support because of his track record of ideological inconsistency.  Why else would Sarkozy be so hot for the unveiling of women’s faces now?  This suggests that the legislation is merely being passed under a cloak of female enfranchisement and upholding the gender equality values of the French Republic.

Two final notes. One, we must be keenly aware that both European and North American populations are aging and that we increasingly rely on the influx of immigrants to support our economies.  For example in Canada we rely on labour traditionally provided by immigrants to support our resource based economy.  Two, passing such laws only stand to deepen and widen the gap between ‘us’ and ‘them.’ We should be working toward more amicable relations with Muslims and by accommodating these people at home, it would be a step forward in altering the opinion of Muslims abroad toward Western nations for the better.