.... The reason is simply that its effect is to impede the most basic forms of social intercourse, face to face communication. Of course one can talk perfectly well over the telephone without seeing another person, and of course blind people can be highly sensitive to verbal nuances and other signals that sighted people can miss.
But, generally, we do use facial expressions as a way of interacting with someone. Conversely, hiding one's face, involves hiding away from them.
Concealment also creates a sense of suspicion - why are they hiding? Do they present a danger to us? Or do they find us threatening? Whether justified or not, it raises a barrier.
Is this anti-religious? Certainly not, for there is no problem with the nun's wimple or Sikh turban or Jewish head-covering, none of which interfere with facial communication.
[A COMMENT] I too feel fortunate to live in a society which values tolerance and seeks to accommodate differences but there are limits. I have no problem with hijabs, turbans or skull caps etc, but covering the face is a step too far and it does cross a sort of red line. [The Huffington Post UK] Read more
