phantom

'If someone is obviously lacking in freedom then it is human nature to want to help them.'

Not necessarily. Often people who are into helping people (and countries) end up causing far more problems than they solve. It also means that you have to be selective about who you help because you can't help everyone. Ultimately, we end up 'helping' only those whose interests serve us best.

Just because I'm a feminist doesn't mean I'm into 'helping' the plight of women. I'm more into analysing the patriarchal system with a view to either changing it or learning how to maintain my own personal integrity while living within it. In fact, I don't have much tolerance for women who continue to kow-tow to it and want to lecture women who have moved on from all that. (I'm not referring to you here; I'm speaking generally.)

I refuse to see burqa/niqab-wearing women as psychologically imprisoned and needing my compassionate help. If the burqa/niqab were banned, they would have a choice to either stay in the house for the rest of their lives, or start going out and about with their faces uncovered.

They might also come to realise that such a garment - unlike many other less than likable public behaviours and forms of dress - crosses a invisible cultural line in Western countries and that it is extremely confronting to people with Western upbringings.

(And PS ... If anyone wants to hit me with a 'just because you don't like something, that's no reason to ban it' lecture, don't bother. Especially on the subject of the burqa, I've heard it all before.)