The UK Independence Party is to call for a ban on the burka and the niqab — the Islamic cloak that covers women from head to toe and the mask that conceals most of the face — claiming they affront British values.
The policy, which a number of European countries are also debating, is an attempt by UKIP to broaden its appeal and address the concerns of disaffected white working-class voters. UKIP would be the first national party to call for a total ban on burkas, though the far-Right BNP believes they should be banned from schools.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the leader of UKIP, said yesterday: “We are taking expert advice on how we could do it. It makes sense to ban the burka — or anything which conceals a woman’s face — in public buildings. But we want to make it possible to ban them in private buildings. It isn’t right that you can’t see someone’s face in an airport.” He explained that UKIP wanted to bring to the fore the issue of the increasing influence of Sharia in Britain: “We are not Muslim bashing, but this is incompatible with Britain’s values of freedom and democracy.” (Strange choice of words when you want to ban something).
I think it will be surprising how many people will vote for a 'single issue party' at the coming election. I just caught the tail end of 'Question Time' last night, but I'm sure I heard one of the panelists saying that one of her constituents was going to vote BNP because 'they were going to sort out the wheelie bins'! Sometimes you forget how stupid people can be. I think if I was in England, my vote would certainly be going to UKIP. Are UKIP the 'thinking mans'" BNP. I don't think so and they are promising to flesh out their policies unlike some of the other parties. Remember they came second to the Tories in England in the EURO elections and depending on how many votes they get, the election will be greatly influenced. If Labour lose votes to the BNP, them the Tories will lose votes to UKIP, particularly amongst disaffected Tory voters who wanted a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
23 comments:
You Jimmies know all aboot this sort of thing; in the 1500’s women were forbidden from wearing their traditional 'arisaid' (a tartan plaid covering the head and extending to the ankles for you Scots who don’t read history) because Kirk ministers were concerned that women might be sleeping under cover of the plaid, during the sermon.
Some towns, such as Aberdeen, banned women from wearing the arisaid in public, lest they be mistaken for "loose women or suspected persons". Which I would have thought would have made things easier anyway, and could have saved a slap or twa in the coupon for asking the wrang lassie if she fancied a makin a bawbe fer a quick trembler.
Having seen a few of these so called Burka clad lassies I think they should keep covered up; If I had a donkey that looked like some of them I would shave its arse and teach it to walk backwards to save embarrassment.
The “loose woman” thing reminds me of the Englishman that went into the Glasgow hotel and asked for a “tartan room” – he got both!
By the way - well done DL; your language is getting less foul. I think reading better expressed comments are increasing your vocabulary. You need to encourage more English comment on yer wee blog; it will do you good and might widen your rather narrow views.
This proposal is completely bonkers and completely unbritish. If we start banning items of clothing because they may be inciteful, what next - football tops? I'm sure there are more fights started on the streets of Glasgow by rangers/celtic fans disliking each others jersey than by women in burkas. I personally think a burka is ugly and despise what it stands for but it's a very thin end of a very fat wedge if we ban it
Don’t worry Rog, the Government will say that it is all in the interests of “security” and that any ban will be “temporary” but banning Burkas is not the answer – educating people and making them realise that an enlightened democracy where women play a full and public part is the only long term solution.
The UKIP promise to ban burkas would just be a cynical populist move taking advantage of the ignorance of the masses and to gather cheap votes.
Stouters, the Kirk was over powerful then as now in some parts of the fair land. As soon as you get narrow minded churchmen giving diktats, you are in trouble. They say the whores do best when the Genral Assembly of the Church of Scotland is in town and probably the rent boys as well. I don't see many Burka clad women here but I suppose if they have nice eyes it can be quite attractive in an alluring kind of way.
As far as the language that is used on this site, may I remind you that it is my site and does not belong to anyone else. If you happen to think it is worthwhile reading then I am pleased, if not that's your perogative. I only reflect the language and tone used by my contributors.
That's my point - 14 lines and not a single four letter word.
I think it's a record.
Rog, I think there are several ways at looking at this. You're right, in a democracy people should be able to wear what they like, but do these women want to wear the burka or is it being dictated by their menfolk. Would a Scotsman be welcome in Saudi or Iran wearing a kilt, I'm not sure. Immigrants should understand that we have welcomed them to this country but in return we expect them to embrace our culture and dress in a Western way and at least learn the language. In a previous occupation I went into many muslim houses and a large percentage of the women and in particular the older women couldn't and had no intention of learning English. Another aspect is security. If you cannot see someone's face it is not easy to ascertain their gender. People with motorbike crash helmets are not allowed in many public places, so why the Burka. Then there is just the bloody minded approach of we don't wear them so neither are you after all it's our 'country'. BTW there are a good many places in Scotland and Glasgow in particular where you are not welcome and won't be served if you have a football top visible.
Stouters, There is no way the Government would ever ban it, in particular the Labour Government. Can you imagine the anguished cries from the rank and file!. Education can only go so far when you have entrenched views as there are with many muslim, the men in particular, who would want to follow Sharia law through some sort of notions lost in the mists of time. I am gradually coming to the idea that immigrants should be , as stated above, embracing the host culture whether by diktat or education. I don't see why we should change our traditions, ideals and morals in this country to suit a idealogy that is foreign to us.
Souters, one is getting on one's tits, (sorry does that count towards a four letter word), with this language thing. If I am on for instance Subrosa's site commenting, I don't swear because she doesn't. If however I am on G.O.T.'s or Is a Cunt's site, (sorry to offend your squaddie's sensibilities but that's what it's called), then I do swear because they do. Most of my contributors DO SWEAR so I reflect their ideals. Bastard, there you've made me use the 'C' word now, which I don't usually, even under provocation.
I wonder if women would still love the burqua if it became compulsory like in places like Saudi. And far from protecting womens modesty the result of compulsory burquas and seperation of men and women until they are married is thousands of frustrated men running around shopping centres throwing pieces of paper with their mobile numbers on at women. The muslim women I spoke to on flights almost always said they felt safer in the West. Free to shop and walk without constant harrassment from men.
Just ask a muslim woman how she was treated on a trip to do her Haj ( pilgrimage to mecca and medina).
Oh and DL thank you for protecting our ideals. You're a fuckin good cunt there's no denying that.
I'd vote for the BNP if they sorted my bins out - my council are fucking uselss.
I think it's good that people vote for those that they want to :)
Thinking about this a bit more, there are so many ugly women in my aread, I'd be happy for a Burqa enforcement - will it also hide their fat guts?
Who is the "sub rosa" bird? She sounds like the Star Chamber to me and therefore anti free speech.
Sorry to irritate you about the language issue, it is of course the last thing that I would want to do; on the other hand you do get a pickle oot of control occasionally. Or maybe .....................
Personally I think people should be able to do what they want to do, provided it does not threaten the health or happiness of their neighbours.
If daft fools want to dress from head to foot in a big black tilt cover then that is up to them – as long as it is really their own freely made decision.
It’s much more this Governments style to license the wearing of Burkas; that’s what the Tudors did to Catholics (Star Chamber!), they could practice their un-approved and seditious religion but they had to pay; it would be just like the TV, fishing, shooting, driving licences and given the money grubbing idiots need for our cash I could see it happening.
DL, Whether Iran or Saudi would allow Scots to wear what they like is irrelevant. They are repulsive regimes and we'd never want to base what we do on them. I used to have a treasurer "Anarchy in the UK" T-Shirt - should that be allowed. As to the argument that they are forced to wear the Burka. Sure some are, but some aren't. There are plenty of women who decide that's what they want to wear. I don't like Burkas but I'd guess that a woman wearing one is more likely to attract attention, than say a women in western clothes. Terrorists are not stupid and will use attire that will attract least attention. In this country, a women in a Burka will always be viewed with a degree of suspicion.
By the way, on the subject of swearing. I think it is quite an effective way of getting your point across. Referees the length of the country regularly get points made to them quite clearly at matches using swearing, following bad decisions (or good ones at old trafford).
If an outright ban is a step too far, would there be political mileage in minimum pricing?
Boabs, I women want to wear the Burka then that is up to them as long as they have not been forced to wear it by their mefolk. However they should not IMO be allowed to wear it here. If they or their ancestors were welcomed to this country then they should adopt our customs. I don't have any problem with them following a different religion from the state religion of christianity but they should do it in a way that doesn't impinge on the rest of the population. If I emeigrated to Saudi, or Jordan or Egypt then I would adopt the traditions of that country and would dress in a fashion that suited the majority of the population and at least try to learn the language.
BTW, I appreciate you calling me a good cunt because I know in Scots that is a compliment. Thanks Boaby.
Headson, aye fair enough vote for someone who sorts out your bins if that's important but not at a GE.
Maybe we could hide some of those Muslim men's faces as well, there are some ugly bastards amongst them.
Stouters, you'll find Rosie at http://subrosa-blonde.blogspot.com/ and as far as swearing is concerned, can we put it to bed. You're really starting to get on my fucking tits about it. As I said previously, it's my blog and I wouldn't have the termerity to go onto your blog, (if you were brave enough to start one instead of commenting on other peoples') and tell you what your content should be.
Anyway, I don't think they should be wearing Burkas in this country and I'm sure the majority of the population would agree. The muslims keep pushing and we keep giving way and sooner or later we have to tell them enough is enough or Enoch Powell's words will become true. What about charging the half wits money to watch reality TV shows?
Rog, wearing a tee shirt is part of Western culture. Try going to Iran and wearing a 'The Ayatollah is a pig' tee shirt and see how long you lasted. Or even a Kaftan with 'Iran sucks' written on it. The arguement that they are repressive is futile as most Muslim countries are, even the ones that welcome western tourist like Egypt and Jordan. I believe that women in Burkas are bothered much more with male Muslim strangers because of the allure of not seeing their faces and the fact that they seem to be following the muslim traditions so mummy will like them.
Aye aswear wors or two I believe emphasises a point much better than not using one and as a lot of my commenters like a swear i will continue to do it but probably not as much as on some sites like G.O.T. or the Penguin or some others and you know which ones I mean.
Edgar, correct. a good point, well made!
Anonymous, are you pished or ingressing illegal substances. If so, can I get some!
Plenty of pubs forbid the wearing of football tops which is fine since they are private places merely trying to avoid confrontation but the idea of UKIP contemplating banning burkas by law simply flies in the face of their supposed Libertarian credentials.
I'm not in favour of women in eyeslitwear but do remember that it also speaks volumes about the majority of Moslem women in this country who chose NOT to wear it.
On a personal level I refuse to engage in any way with any cunt* who hides their face, in the same way that I would not open my door to a guy hiding his face with a balaclava.
*gratuitous use of C word just to annoy Stout Hart
Banned, I did not know that they had libertarian views. A lot of muslim women who don't wear Asian clothing outside wear it in the house. Yes, old stout heart is getting a wee bit hung up on swearing.
Roberto, said like a true Killy man. :-)
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