Yasmine Mohammed ياسمين محمد  🦋

I suspect that tweet above was to support your point, not counter it. At least that’s how I read it.

I don’t think it is, but just in case anyone is confused, I’ll restate my point - I don’t think it’s okay to ban anyone’s religious expression (unless it hurts someone else), and generally people should be free to worship how they wish or not at all.

I agree w you. I think your ‘unless it hurts someone else’ caveat is key when it comes to niqab. I wore it myself and I can tell you, it hurts the wearer first and foremost. Other than that, it’s as much a societal safety concern as a balaclava or anything else hiding identity.

I believe in one law for all. I don’t think there should be religious exclusions. If no one can walk into a bank or a school or an airport etc with their face covered...then no one can. No exceptions.

I understand the rationale - I would argue that placing a barrier between someone’s actually held belief and their ability to function in the world could be highly counter-productive.

There’s so much more than can be explained in a tweet. Did you watch the clip above? I try to explain it. Under fundamentalist Islam a women should not be seen, heard, or smelled by any man other than her husband. Banning it actually frees women from the obligation to wear it.

I do understand. And there are - frankly - a lot of things that religions ask of their adherents I think are deeply bad for them, and are counter-productive and dangerous and limiting. And I wish they didn’t believe in them or want to engage in them.

To me it’s akin to the laws that demand medical practitioners treat children from Jehovas Witness families whether their parents consent or not. Parents are obviously happy that the law is going to ensure their children are cared for-and their religious conscious can stay clear.