UK Burka Ban/Should We Do The Same?

[MennoSota]

Are you always this heartless? As governor, millions of people depend on you for their livelihood, their families, and their future, and you just told them all to rot in hell... after they elected you.

Hint: God forgives; voters don't.

 

[MennoSota]

Some peoples' religious beliefs compel them to never show their face in public, including in photographs. I might disagree with such beliefs, but my natural inclination is that they should be free to live to their beliefs.

As a religious person, I'm slightly surprised* that you're inclined towards not allowing people to live in accordance their religious beliefs. I would have thought the religious community would be arguing strongly in defence of such rights. What sort of precedent do you think such laws would set for religion in society in general? Aren't you guys digging your own graves here?

* I'm not really surprised

If Burka wearers wish to drive horse and buggies or ride bicycles...fine...wear your burkas. But get your full face picture for driving a car and don't hide your face while driving or if the police need to match the face with the ID.
The government makes laws to protect society. Not all customs fit within the law. For example, Hmong immigrants could not butcher their pigs in their backyards or bury their child's umbilical cord at the spot the child was born, according to custom. Why, the US government said so.

 

[Oafman]

If Burka wearers wish to drive horse and buggies or ride bicycles...fine...wear your burkas. But get your full face picture for driving a car and don't hide your face while driving or if the police need to match the face with the ID.

I disagree with the bolded part. I think that's an unnecessary breech of religious freedom.

The government makes laws to protect society. Not all customs fit within the law. For example, Hmong immigrants could not butcher their pigs in their backyards or bury their child's umbilical cord at the spot the child was born, according to custom. Why, the US government said so.

I don't see too much of a problem with the pigs, assuming hygiene restrictions etc are being met. However, if Hmong immigrants started digging up the foundations of maternity wards, I can see how that might become an issue....

But did you take my overall point? Does it concern you that non-religious people seem to be more willing to defend religious rights than do the religious, when it is another religion's rights which are being threatened?

 

[MennoSota]

I disagree with the bolded part. I think that's an unnecessary breech of religious freedom.


I don't see too much of a problem with the pigs, assuming hygiene restrictions etc are being met. However, if Hmong immigrants started digging up the foundations of maternity wards, I can see how that might become an issue....

But did you take my overall point? Does it concern you that non-religious people seem to be more willing to defend religious rights than do the religious, when it is another religion's rights which are being threatened?

Burkas while driving is a safety issue. Revealing a face on a traffic stop is a safety issue. Wear your religious garb as needed, but don't expect the government to approve you for every government sanctioned activity, such as driving a motor vehicle.

The Amish refuse to get their picture taken. Guess what...they can't legally drive a motor vehicle because of that choice. The government is not restrictions their religious rights by denying them a license.

 

[Oafman]

Burkas while driving is a safety issue. Revealing a face on a traffic stop is a safety issue.

Could you expand on this please. I'm unclear what you mean.

 

[MennoSota]

Could you expand on this please. I'm unclear what you mean.

Every person who gets their picture taken with the Burka will have their faces shielded so that you can only see their eyes. There is no clear way of knowing who is behind the mask.
Law enforcement needs to see a person's full face.
This isn't complicated.

 

[Oafman]

Every person who gets their picture taken with the Burka will have their faces shielded so that you can only see their eyes. There is no clear way of knowing who is behind the mask.
Law enforcement needs to see a person's full face.
This isn't complicated.

The part I questioned was this:

don't hide your face while driving

I don't object to insisting a face is shown on a driving licence, just as it must be on a passport. I also don't object to insisting people reveal their faces to cops at a traffic stop. But you wrote this:

Burkas while driving is a safety issue.

Sure, a licence mugshot and the need to show you are the person in the mugshot are necessary. But how is wearing a burka while driving a safety issue? It's that part that I picked on as being an unnecessary restriction on religious freedoms.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

The part I questioned was this:

I don't object to insisting a face is shown on a driving licence, just as it must be on a passport. I also don't object to insisting people reveal their faces to cops at a traffic stop. But you wrote this:

Sure, a licence mugshot and the need to show you are the person in the mugshot are necessary. But how is wearing a burka while driving a safety issue? It's that part that I picked on as being an unnecessary restriction on religious freedoms.

I assume he's talking about peripheral vision, which would have to be pretty compromised when wearing certain types of burka. Don't know if I'd agree with a ban even in that case, you could have the same issue with some of the more "fashionable" eye-wear I've seen.