Are legislations banning burqas justified?

First Belgium and now France has banned the wearing of burqas or niqabs in public places. They are careful not to mention the word "burqa" so as to not offend Muslim sentiments. But it is quite obvious which community is targetted since the full  body length burqa is worn by muslim women alone. The reasons cited for the ban are public security, women's rights and upholding secular status of their countries.


One needs to think whether or not this political move is justified. Are only burqa wearing women a threat to public safety? Why then do we have bomb explosions in which men suicide bombers walk about freely in full public view as they did in London in 2005? There must be a way to scan people's belongings and person and detect weapons or bombs without encroaching on their liberty to choose what they want to wear.

How can these governments guarantee that banning burqas will reduce the incidents of terrorist attacks and suicide bombings? What needs to be done is to ask the women their opinion on this issue. In order to get them to express their views freely a climate of openness and understanding needs to be created. It is not enough to say that women in Muslim societies feel coerced into wearing the burqa. If these governments are serious about protecting women's rights they must create a space for plebiscite on this issue by the women themselves and then take decisions of such drastic natures.