when people talk about banning the burka muslims then decide its nothing to do with religion. Its a cultural thing.
Anything done to stop it is islamophobia
To walk around the streets and in shops wearing one of these things is a serious security risk.
Anyone could use this as a way of avoiding cctv cameras from identifying them.
Why the hell should the rest of society have to take your pathetic superstition serious.

Quote "Too bad Saira does not realise that being forced into proving her ‘Britishness’ by vilifying the veil is not a freely made choice as she so believes she has made. A free choice is when you still carry on doing something you believe in despite the criticisms, the condemnations and the censoring gazes of others as many British women who wear the veil have to endure today""

Why do muslims pretent to care about freedom?
When a child is born into a muslim family, its automatically a muslim. No choice.
You have helped destroy a teachers life because you feel that has no right to choose how she dresses.

Not really interested in what a Qadiani like Saira Khan has to say. These anti-Islam British agents are popping up everywhere.

Of course its ironic that mosques will preach for the women in the community to wear hijab/nikab ect but when it gets banned they do nothing. Very clever move you mosque guys you'vce really got it sussed out havent you!?

The writer should also have the courage to publish her name.

Saj...you ranting is misdirected...the two posts have attacked Islam yet you feel it's better to direct your bile at the mosques...typical MPAC trait

Funny how people like Saira suddenly done the garb of British Muslim when they need to have a dig at the faith that they have little in common with except their name. She long ago rejected all notions of faith and belief with her public demonstrations of actions and speech which contradict the very basic of our faith.

markuk the racist bigot lectures british muslims again, so next we should ban wigs-fake beards-make up-sunglasses or any type of glasses,as they can be used to hide a persons identity.
we should also ban hair dyes-stop people from shaving their heads and wearing hats.
Instead of going to all these lengths is it not simpler for so called christians to stop invading and slaughtering people around the world, is that such a hard thing to do,with racist bigots it seems it is, it seems what racist bigots understand is retribution like the one that was meted to the racist bigots in germany after world war two, when millions were left to die from hunger and desease.

The niqab has no basis in Islam. It is a cultural practice not religious. No Muslim should feel under any obligation to wear it.

MPAC attacks another woman - shocker. What big men you are, MPAC.

The covering of women is an extension of male insecurity..Why dont men cover up??

My word, the Islamophobes on this site just get dumber and dumber.

Go and re-read the last paragraph of the article again.

I agree with Mohammed - there is a cottage industry in this country of so-called "experts" who have little more to do with Islam than just their name, yet they are treated as authorities. Ali-Bhai Brown is another.

I'm sure they are being used as part of a wider agenda to dilute our deen, and equally they are only in it for their 30 pieces of silver.

We should be happy that they are using nobodies like these, I mean talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel!

Great article. I loved it. Well done MPACUK.

To those who argue that the jilbab and niqaab aren't from islam, go back to qur'an and ahadith and read for yourself before you make such ill-informed comments. If you knew anything about islam, you would know that BOTH men and women need to dress and act modestly, cover certain areas of their body. And NO it is not a cultural practise. If it was, then it would have died down long ago. But wait a minute, the number of people choosing islam as their way of life is increasing.

Think for a moment

In the last 30 years the frequency that women wear the veil has significantly increased driven by socio-political pressure. In western society seeing the other persons face is important as it confirms the identity of the person and is part of the means of communication. Only if women are chattel would they neither need to identify themselves or communicate with others in wider society. In the west wearing any kind of mask is not seen as a symbol of piety but of secrecy and criminality. (Thieves and highwaymen wear masks, not law abiding people)In the west there has been a struggle over the 150 years to ensure that women have equal legal rights and are not the chattel of men.
It is indicative therefore of the degree of ignorance and disassociation with the host society that some UK Muslims express total incomprehension and thus offence at the objections to the wearing of veils and other garments which hide the face. Unfortunately the masking of women has also become associated with the perversion of Islam that has caused horrendous injuries and deaths in the name of Islam.
We must mature, and begin to learn and understand about the "other". Our current stance is neo-adoloscent and profoundly immature and self-obsessed.

Please verify what I am about to say as I am no scholar but I have heard this from a brother I feel has some knowledge. He said that ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) explained when asked about the HIJAB) he demonstrated it as covering the whole body, hair and covering ONE eye!

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that ibn Abbas is the interpreter of the Quran.

Saira Khan is a naive young woman growing up the spotlight of the media and it's a little sickening to witness her embarrassing comments being taken as some sort of authoratative judgement. She clearly isn't a practising Muslim so why should she make any comment on Islam? This world is full of reality TV rejects.

As for silly criticisms of "attacking women" - surely equal rights should mean you shouldn't take such considerations such as gender into account.

Well put Taz the world does seem to be filled with reality TV wannabes an rejects

Notice how the press use the "token-muslima" to get their message across.

Shame on you SK for falling for this divide and conquer policy that the DM love to propagate....how on earth did you become the "Muslim-spokesperson" for us all?

Here in the UK the attitude that is being constantly fed to us is that either you conform to our way of doing things or if you don't it makes you a lesser form of people.

People generally need to realise that no matter how much you dye your hair blonde and put fake blue contact lenses in your eyes, or follow an anorexic standard of beauty that they promote, or no matter what kind of car you drive or what kind of fancy clothes you put on, you will never be them.

They're always going to look at you as you are nothing.

I'd rather be proud of what I am, rather than desperately trying to be something I'm really not, just to fit in.

And whether we want to accept it or not, that's what this culture or lack of culture is feeding us.

SK and those with a similar mindset seem to have become self-hating muslims with little or no self worth and appreciation of themselves.

Sisters feel proud in keeping to your hijabs & niqabs.

What is it with some muslims saying "I have read the Quran" when trying to justify a point of few. You are Muslim and surely reading the Quran is the first thing you should do.

1) Saira Khan has made a decision, she knows full well the views of extreme fundamentalist muslims and left-wing liberl ones. As well as most of the views in between the two poles. She can now do whatever she wants, knowing that one day she will have to answer to Allah. It is for Allah to judge her, not us.

2) Yes, the burka, hijab and niqab are all cultural, and not islamic. Islam is very clear on how women should dress, and no amount of twisting the words will get it to mean anything else. The covering of the face is a cultural issue, the hair an Islamic one.

3) The largest section of the muslim women population in the west do not cover their hair, then there are those who do, and finally, the smallest minority are those who cover their faces. The face covering is not endemic and neither is it the majority of women that do so.

4) If this or the french government want to ban it on security reasons, then they should also ban dark glasses, beards, scarfes, hats and anything else which may make it diffiuclt to see the fae clearly. If they're going to ban it on religious grounds, then they should also ban the wearing of crucifixes and skullcaps. If they're going to ban it because it subjugates women, then they should also ban nuns habits. (Nuns incidentally, have the same dress requirements as muslim women.)

5) "If it ain't broke, why fix it". I have never heard of a woman wearing the niqab robbing a bank or mugging someone. I have never heard of one starting a confrontation, usually, they are on the receiving end. Why has it suddenly become an issue? Has something happened recenty? Has a woman wearing a burka let a bomb off in Kings Cross?

6) The route to the solution, is not making it illegal, as it will only embolden more women to assert their right and freedom to wear it. If the west truly thinks that the women are being forced into wearing it by their husbands or male family members, and she is not wearing it out of choice, is education. Moderate Imams, preachers and community elders need to be given more resources to help them educate their flock about the basic meanings of Islam, and then let people decide for themselves how they would interpret the koran, or which person they will go to next to seek advice. The solution to most problems in this world is education.

7)Islam clearly states that a muslim man must be covered from his belly button to his knees. However, I, and hundreds of million muslims around the world flaunt this rule when we go swimming in trunks, or play football in shorts. I do this knowing full well what Islam decrees, and I expect to be judged by Allah for my transgression, and He will punish me accordingly. However, we don't let a woman make the same choice for herself. Hypocricy as bad as the Americans. I say to all Muslim males, before you go round spouting off how a woman should dress in public, clean up your own house first. Start by never exposing your awrah (belly button to knees) again, even in this nice hot weather. Then start on your own male kith and kin. THEN, you have the authority to inform other women on how to dress, but only inform, if they still refuse, you have no right to force her.

Finally, I would personally prefer to see a muslim woman not wear one out of choice, rather than be forced to wear one.

saira , you are just a mere "coconut" who just aspires to be be a wannabe , you try and try to fit in to society and even if you have married a white non muslim man and had a child out of wedlock doesnt really speak volumes for your cultral or islamic ethics and morals or values..
saira is only fustrated that SHE cant wear the hijab and being in the eye of the media only has made this woman blind and part of a ignorant pathetic minority..because of her oppressing childhood of being forced to wear shalwar kameez and speak the lingo has left her with pure resentment. Sisters who CHOOSE to wear th hijab and niqab are oh so not oppressed infact the liberation is so sweet We dont question you saira for not wearing the hijab,
oh and by the way saira , i still can detect a pakistani accent when you talk ..Saira khan . youre fired!

Anyone could wear sun glasses or even change the colour of their hair and you would still be able to identify was them.
If you completely cover your face so you cant see it at all then it becomes a security risk.
Use your common sence you stupid twat.

Tahir when I wrote my comment there were no comments on the board i guess the website admin hadnt publish comments yet! Typical ignorant mosque committee mentality i.e dodge the real issue!

why o why are you guys giving her the time and attention she strives for, with this kind of attentions she wants she'll be the next spokes person for the BNP who feel they are racial intergrated enough, when you she dog dirt on the pavment do you stop and point at it or aviod it ??? ignore her and eventually the rain will wash away.

Hundreds of millions of muslim men do not play football or go swimming infront of women,muslim men are dressed from the neck to their ankles,in view of islams injunctions men are overdressed,do care to check before making generalisations.
If a women wishes to dress in tight body hugging clothes or low cut dresses or shorts in her home ,then that is her choice, but when out and about she needs to be clothed as muslims are commanded, islam beleives in preventation ,todays world lovers believe in pleasure of the senses, as muslims we beleive in the pleasure of heaven.

We as muslims have an obligation to advice not compel people to thier percieved social role. In what you are saying contradicts everything Islam stamds for and according to you a women can walk around half naked at home in front of her father, husband, son, uncles etc.

See what i mean Shan you have no credibility in what you say and what you understand about Islam.

“Saira Khan is an insecure woman who feels that she has to shun her Muslim identity to prove her Britishness.”

I'm no fan of Saira Khan but shunning the veil has nothing to do with shunning one’s Muslim identity because there is nothing Islamic about the veil. The hijab is Islamic. The veil is not. When you ask a Muslim woman to take off her veil you're not asking her to violate her faith. The veil can be regarded as a legitimate security threat and it is fair to argue against it.

Your points are total nonsense. The veil may not be compulsory in Islam but it is culturally a Muslim thing. Therefore if you believe in freedom, then people should be free to wear it.

If banning the veil is OK because it is a security threat then I'm surprised you haven't called for the banning of cars, knives, wigs and sunglasses. They are also a security threat.

One thing i find very strange is the vast majority of muslim woman ive seen wearing a burqa cake their eyes in makeup. and i mean almost every one ive seen.

I think your points are nonsense. If you believe that the veil is not compulsory in Islam but cultural then Muslim women should not feel that their religious ideals have been violated when they’re asked not to wear it.

I am talking about the covering of one’s face in public – whether it’s a veil, mask, balaclava or something else comparable. What does that have to do with “cars, knives, wigs and sunglasses”? If you go into a bank or some other place where you have to be identified, then no-one should be offended to ‘show’ their face. That includes veil-wearing Muslim women.

Your point being?

Your missing the point mate. When a muslim women decides to wear the veil se can't abuse the veil by showing her face in public or to un-realted male. That's the concern not your ideals security issues which you so want to put forward as an argument. It's nonsense, security is a great concern but banning the veil will not stop the threats.

Even if the quran doesnt mention burqas. It still is a muslim issue because the people wearing them are wearing them because they believe muslims should.
Its like when people preach the killing of anyone who leaves their religion is ok. You might say oh thats unislamic or they arent real muslims. But if they believe it and preach it. Then i think that the majority in that religion should take responsibility speak out.
When i see a woman wearing a burqa i feel that they have no intention to inergrate into the society they live in. And im not talking about stripping off.
I think its just common sence that you dont walk around in public with you whole face completely covered up.
.

The void in the argument about the burqa and niqab is the role of men. It is interesting that we place the onus upon the woman to contain herself, and not upon the man. I as a man have no difficulty walking down any UK street and resisting the temptations of women who do not cover themselves up entirely, and I must do so at work as the rules demand. I have no desire to denounce publicly or privately these women and have no doubt that these women are people of integrity.
It occurs to me that the man who complains that he cannot resist the temptations of the flesh cannot be a true Muslim. Can this same man resist the temptation to eat forbidden foods or act in other ways contrary to Islam? Do we demand that shops cover up these foods from sight so that these inadequates are not tempted?
I believe that a true Muslim is someone who has subjected himself to the disciplines of Islam. Even if a woman were to approach him naked, he should be able to address her as though she were fully clothed. This is matter of being responsible for oneself and being an adult and being a Muslim. If we cannot meet such challenges then we as men are incompetents and little better than the animals in the field.

I.sidat the one who stands with indians when they are raping and slaughtering muslims talks about credibility,that really takes the biscuit.

Saira Khan does not just shun the veil, she shuns the hijab too as well as making comments best suited to the likes of the BNP, not to mention nothing in her behaviour or dress alludes to that of a Muslim woman.

There is a difference of opinion on whether the veil is obligatory or not and for many muslim women it is a step closer to their God but what difference does it make whether its religious or cultural. Women should be free to wear whatever they want. Are you trying to say its not ok to violate religious rights but its okay to violate other rights?

Stop twisting the issue. Islam allows the face covering to be removed for purposes of identification.

i wear hijab/jilbab etc, no-one forced me, Wallaah it was my choice and i am happy! alhamdulillaah! :p

You're obviously not a Muslim or you're quite dumb either way you haven't obviously considered that veiled women are happy to identify themselves to other females and since you brought up the issue of security how many security incidents have involved the the veil and how many the other items I mentioned?

Why should they be asked not to wear them if they feel it is their culture? Why should a ban be involved? Are you a fascist? Stop trying to dictate what women can and cannot wear.

Saira Khan should go over to America and try finding out why white christian men still wear white veils and burqas? KKK??? Would she find they are oppressed or was it their choice???

I am a Muslim. How can you make a stupid statement like “You're obviously not a Muslim or you're quite dumb”? I accept that there have been a tiny number of security incidents involving the veil. There are however a number of situations where people have to be identified – and everyone will have to accept that. I haven’t written that it should or shouldn't be banned. The point I am trying to make is that Muslim women should not feel that their religious belief has been violated when they are asked to take off their veils because the veil has no basis in Islam. With regard to the veil I wrote “it is fair to argue against it”. On the basis of that you reply with “Are you a fascist? Stop trying to dictate what women can and cannot wear.” At least try to understand what I wrote before you reply.

May I say what excellent points Q makes.

Picture, if you will, a scene at a lapdancing club with Anjem Choudary and a lapdancer ....

Q, Andromeda:

Thank you for posting sane, sensible and balanced comments on this and other topics. It is always refreshing to read your comments, as well as enlightening and entertaining.

I concur with Andromeda, very good and well made points Q.

People like Saira Khan belong to those ignorant naive class of people who see and believe everything at face value. Yes the British/European societies have many good things to offer but they also can be very destructive when it comes to moral values. For example tolerating gays and lesbians seems allright.But wearing a Hijab or Burqa is terrible. Women attired literally naked .Mothers having sexual relations before their own children is alright especially in france. There are many family women who invite young men and go to bed and the children know about it and do nothing. These kind of things are accepted as normal and fine. But when it comes to covering up yourself as a mark of respect or as a religious duty then people like Saira Khan and christianist bigots raise a hue and a cry. Shame on you Saira. You are disgrace to the very name of Islam. It is said you are a qadiani anyway. If you are you are not Muslim anyway.

Men would ideally like to see women not dressed too much. Muslim women do not wear abayas (the word burka has been ruined by the media) for men, but for Allah Subhana wa ta Ala. I apologise for Saira Khan on behalf of all the Sairas in the world.

Muslim women need to wise up and understand that those that are calling for the removal of your attire are just peeved because they've managed to force all other groups of women to strip off to the minimum so that they may indulge their perverse little fantasies - but not you!The men want more flesh (especially those that have been deprived) and the women who seek to undermine you, probably feel that when they look at their own bodies/insecurities they probably should'nt be exposed to the general public themselves.Remember when your grandmothers' removed their hijabs and are still 3rd class citizens today, so you should go ahead and be as big,bold/bolshy Islamic as poss, coz u will be treated the same.`Haters of freedom eh??'If u had yr freedom u wouldn't be fighting for it in the 1st instance.In the words of Malcolm X,this is `hypocrisy not democracy'.Democracy is the unknown element that you will never experience, unless you're WASP.Say NO to the `dirty raincoat' and `sweaty palms' brigade.

To AKH, Angry Academic Activist
Well said. Best to leave Ms Khan and the other `Muslim' house Negroes to do their masters bidding!!!