I don't have any real objection to women wearing any form of attire, including the Burqa. However when positive ID is required, or a question of road safety as in driving a Motor Vehicle, then common sense should prevail. In Banks, Airport Controls, whenever a positive ID is required by police or any other authorised officer. It really should be a simple matter of basic common sense.

One thing that does confuse me concerning the wearing of the Burqa ? Is it an Islamic religious requirement ? Or does the husband of a women require her to wear it ? Or is it the ladies prerogative as to whether or not they wish to wear it ?

From a personal viewpoint, unless the lady herself chooses to wear the Burqa, it does demean or humiliate a woman somewhat, if it's mandated she wears it, in my opinion.

"I know Tally many secularist are happy to run around half naked in the streets and elsewhere. I mean secularist can photograph nude kids and call it art however to others it is child porn."

Runner, some are the best in what they do, just keep posting:)...lol

Tally

Hi Poirot,

Sorry, I misunderstood - I assumed that anybody wanting to enter any part of Parliament House would have to remove their face covering, whether they were a Muslim woman, or a bikie with a full-face helmet, or someone with a face mask.

So Muslim women would still be allowed to wear a nikab in the parliamentary gallery, if they sit behind a glass shield ? Sounds fair enough, alongside the bikies, etc. Pretty generous really.

I suppose the same should go for people attending court ?

Cheers,

Joe

Dear Foxy,

You wrote;

“There are countries that restrict
women's dress - Saudi Arabia comes to mind. Australia is not
one of those countries. When coming to this country you are
asked to subscribe to certain values. If you have strong
objections to those values, don't come to Australia.
However there are certain laws that we are all required to
abide by - and it seems that wearing a burqa is now considered
to be a "security risk."

How about we tease this out a little.

Many places in the world that have had little issue with a uncovered breasts. Some that typically spring to mind are Tahiti, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, and many other Pacific nations. But the list is far more extensive. Toplessness was rife throughout the sub-continent and up through Asia and is an indigenous tradition right here in Australia. The tide of Islam and Christianity forced the notion that the uncovered female breast was obscene but there are still many places in the world one can visit where its sexualisation has not won the day.

If you were to visit those places would you feel the need to comply with their values and expose your breasts? If you were uncomfortable doing so should you be asked to leave or not to visit in the first place?

I personally don't think so but from what you have put it seems you might. Perhaps I am mistaken.

We have to make the distinction between 'covering up' and 'uncovering'. If a Tahitian woman was to come to our country then she should accept (what I consider as a twisted set of values) in Australia walking around with uncovered breasts is inappropriate and in many contexts unlawful so being asked to cover up is reasonable. If you were to visit some of the more traditional Islamic countries then covering up by wearing a head scarf is again appropriate.

Cont..

Cont..

What I don't think is appropriate is to force women to uncover. If you visited Tahiti or even stayed there as a permanent resident it shouldn't be obligatory for you to expose your breasts. Nor do I feel it is appropriate for force women who come to this country into uncovering past what they feel personally comfortable with.

But from what you have put it seems you do. Perhaps I am mistaken.

Costello completely misses the point;

Not wearing shoes in a Mosque is hardly an injunction from Allah. This is an Islamic ruling on the issue;

“The Prophet entered the mosque in shoes and prayed in shoes. Abu Dawood narrated in his Sunan with his isnaad that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri said: Whilst the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was leading his companions in prayer, he took off his shoes and placed them to his left. When the people saw that, they took off their shoes. When the Messenger of Allaah had finished the prayer he said, “What made you take off your shoes?” They said, “We saw you take off your shoes, so we took off our shoes.” The Messenger of Allaah said: “Jibreel came to me and told me that there was some dirt on them.” And he said: “When one of you comes to the mosque, let him check his shoes, and if he seeds any dirt on them, let him wipe them and pray in them.” … But now that mosques are usually furnished with fine carpets, the one who enters the mosque should take off his shoes and be careful to keep the carpet clean and not annoy other worshippers because of dirt that may get onto the carpet from the soles of his shoes, even if it is taahir (pure).”

I respect a woman's right to a higher personal standard of modesty full stop

Loverly weasel words, Joe,

"So Muslim women would still be allowed to wear a nikab in the parliamentary gallery, if they sit behind a glass shield ? Sounds fair enough, alongside the bikies, etc. Pretty generous really. "

It is supposedly about "security"....If the woman wearing the nikab has been cleared by security to enter the gallery - then why the segregation?

What is the threat if the person has already been comprehensively scanned by security?