.... although I don’t think women have the right to wear the niqab in all situations, I disagree with some of Jacobin’s arguments. I take his point (made in section 1) that banning one rather extreme form of clothing (proscription) is different from laying down precise rules about what women should wear (prescription).
However I still don’t think the fact there is no absolute symmetry between a niqab ban and a highly prescriptive dress code justifies such a ban, particularly when one can wear offensive symbols, including swastikas, in public.
[A COMMENT] I believe the argument is approaching the conclusion point that there will be no ban on Burkha or Niqab except in any situation where a state institution requires to see your face for identification or interviews ie court, benefits office, driving test, airports.
And where the state requires that your face is uncovered in nursing and school. Outside of these areas it remains whether a shop or supermarket may individually ban them on ground of identification for shoplifting. [Harry’s Place, 21 September] Read more
