Veil ban would be 'un-British', says immigration minister Damian Green

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Friday, July 23, 2010
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This is Kent

NEW immigration minister Damian Green has vowed not to ban burkas and other Islamic veils claiming such a move would be "un-British".

The Ashford MP made his opinions public just days after a fellow Conservative politician submitted a private members' bill, which could make it illegal for people to cover their faces in public.

  1. Burkha

    Burkha

Mr Green was quizzed by a national newspaper at the weekend during which he said passing such a law would go against the country's communities.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, he said: "Telling people what they can and can't wear, if they're just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do.

"We're a tolerant and mutually respectful society."

Mr Green's comments have been welcomed by a number of Muslim movements who have claimed Britain is the most Muslim-friendly nation in Europe. Last week French politicians voted in favour of banning the burka – an Islamic, full-body veil that covers the face with only a small gap or mesh to see out from – as well as similar, face-concealing clothing.

A full ruling in France is expected to be made in September but Mr Green said he did not think the move would have an impact on immigration into Britain and added he felt such a ban here would be very unlikely.

He said: "There are times, clearly, when you've got to be able to identify yourself and people have got to be able to see your face, but I think it's very unlikely and it would be undesirable for the British Parliament to try and pass a law dictating what people wore.

"I think there's absolutely no read-across to immigration policy from what the French are doing about the burka."

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5 Comments

  • Profile image for manuelization

    by manuelization

    Wednesday, August 17 2011, 1:18PM

    “If gullible Brits would have the nerve to realise the stupidity in the veil, and realise it is ungodly, (among various other deranged Islamic activities) they might save a few lives. Why keep pandering to Islam? its nothing more than a selfish cult.

    They can quickly condemn my community as Gypsies for buying land and trying to live normal lives, yet these very same house-dwelling imbeciles will walk barefoot on broken glass to appease Islam. Unbritish to ban the veil?
    So, is the British connected with the Arab nations and with Islam then?

    Talk about suck-butts, you lot take the cake. Brown noses.”

  • Profile image for This is Kent

    by Helen, Kent

    Tuesday, July 27 2010, 10:46AM

    “This question is asked in the previous comment............. "Why are people reluctant to associate with us as willingly and openly as with other Muslim women who don't cover their face? .......Well for me personally I'd much rather speak to someone with whom I can see their face. Looking at a pair of eyes through a slit of material doesn't bring a lot to the reactionary side of a conversation in terms of seeing someone smile or make facial expressions during a normal conversation.
    So I'm afraid you are different.
    In Britain if you cover your face you are normally up to no good because you don't want to be seen to be caught, maybe this is why, as you say covering your face "has caused this breach of trust between us and the rest of the world"”

  • Profile image for This is Kent

    by Iftikhar Ahmad, Forest Gate London

    Monday, July 26 2010, 4:30PM

    “There is a social and economic pressure of on Muslim women not to cover themselves with Hijab or Niqab. Syeda Warsi is a member of the Toy Cabinet becaus she does not cover herself with Hijab or Niqab. Only those Muslim women who are having post of responsibility are those who do not cover themselves. Only those Muslim women recieve OBE, who do not cover themselves. Banning the veil or blocking the building of minarets would alienate the Muslim community and threaten social cohesion. There is no need for the British Establishment to ban Niqab because it is a Munafiq society. Those westen European countries who have banned Niqab are Kaffir.

    Some young Muslim feminists consider the hijab and niqab political symbols, a way of rejecting Western excesses such as binge drinking, casual sex and drug use. Which is more liberating: being judged on the length of your skirt and size of your breasts, or on your character and intelligence?

    A careful reading of the Qur¿an shows that just about everything Western feminists fought for in the 1970s was available 1,400 years ago to Muslim women, who are considered equal to men in spirituality, education and worth. When Islam offers women so much, why are Western men so obsessed with Muslim women¿s attire? Even British government ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid have made disparaging remarks about the niqab, and they hail from Scotland, where men wear skirts.

    ¿common sense¿ not to wear the niqab because it makes social relations ¿more difficult.¿ Nonsense. If this were the case, why are cell phones, e-mail, text messaging and fax machines in daily use?

    Covering ones body up does not reduce their intelligence or physical and mental capabilties in running their home, raising their kids, getting a degree, making money, being an informed member of society or their social interaction with other fellow humans. The niqaab does not make them inferior.

    Why are people reluctant to associate with us as willingly and openly as with other Muslim women who don't cover their face? We don't bite or are any different. Is is because they are afraid that we are more 'terroristically' inclinded because we choose to follow our religion more closely? On the contrary, people who follow their religions closely, any relgion, realize that they are under more obligation to uphold the sanctity of their faith under all circumstances and no religion teaches violence.

    To make a long argument short , women who cover their face and observe Niqab, are as normal as anyone else. If we are the victims then we are indeed the victims of mass propoganda and false advertising againts Muslim women that has caused this breach of trust between us and the rest of the world.

    We are very normal, we are very human and we are as intelligent as anyone else....the real beauty and inner strength lies within the mind. By wearing Hijab or niqab, a Muslim woman is able to confidentially project her opinions and ideas without having the pressure of being secretly or publicly critiqued of their body.

    Today, our society encourages women to show off their bodies, and not show off their brains. Female models are often underweight, and the media tells us this is the way women should look like!! dont make me laugh!!!!
    Iftikhar ahmad
    http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk”

  • Profile image for This is Kent

    by Roy, Maidstone

    Saturday, July 24 2010, 12:04PM

    “"Un-British" LOL
    Don't they make you laugh,they have no idea what British is about or what the British people want or don't as the case maybe.

    We British don't want the Burka here, see the poll's on the subject.
    But it doe's not matter what we the British people want,it's what the Do-gooder's and what the so called elite want that matters,the common man on the street have to just put up and shut up and do as we are told.
    Hense we are now up to our eye balls in debt paying for the banks grred whilst being reduced to poverty and living hand to mouth.

    Where has the freedom of speach gone?
    What happened to the Magna carta,and common law?

    We have become slaves to the state,and we have a lot worse to come, if their plan to remove what is truely British and turn us into a European underdog is to come to fruition.
    God help us.”

  • Profile image for This is Kent

    by Arthur, Kent

    Friday, July 23 2010, 10:37AM

    “Here we go again.........."Telling people what they can and can't wear, if they're just walking down the street, is a rather un-British thing to do"..........Unless it's a hooded sports jacket or a crash helmet which are banned in some shops and garages!.........I see no difference!......
    "Mr Green's comments have been welcomed by a number of Muslim movements who have claimed Britain is the most Muslim-friendly nation in Europe".............Britain also pays out the most in benefits and provides housing at a massive cost to tax payers, making it even more muslim friendly.........Yet why do we keep seeing film footage and pictures of crowds of muslims chanting and directing hatred and anger towards our troops on their return from duty from these muslims countrys that they are trying to restore order in?.......
    "Un-British" sounds like an excuse not to be able to express your feelings in your own country.........Very well done France, a country that does have the balls to stand up for itself and its people, sadly something Britain is rapidly loosing fast.”

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