Should New Zealand ban the burqa?

By Sandie

If anyone wants to read an informative and objective article about the burqa, this is good: http://relijournal.com/islam/the-burqa-facts-issues/ For many islamic women, the burqa is an enforced dress code where failure to comply results in punishment, often severe. The burqa itself is not intrinsic to Islamic faith, and you can be a practicing Muslim with or without it. So the contentious issue is whether Muslim women living in NZ should have the freedom to choose - we are making a statement about Womens Rights and Human Rights either way. I don't feel good seeing a woman wearing a burqa driving a vehicle around my neighbourhood, because I fear her peripheral vision is almost certainly impaired. In its most extreme form, the burqa covers the entire body including the face and eyes, with only a fabric grille to look through. However, I've also read that a motorcycle helmet is equally obscuring to vision, so where does that leave us? Should deaf people drive? I'm done with trying to look at all sides of this thing...make it clear and BAN THE BURQA!

By Njo

Yes it should be banned!.

By Irena

Yes i really love burgas hehe

By C. Barry

No!! It is religious!! Im European and I have no problem with it, yes when we need to identify them they should take them off but other wise let them wear what they want to! The world is apparently FREE so people should be able to wear what they want to! So, to all you people who say to ban the burqa just think it is their choice, and what would you say if you were told that it was illegal to wear what you wanted to wear.....

By norman luck

they should never be alowed into nz and if they wish to come here they should have them removed. i think its very intimidating when they are on public transport or planes. if they want to cover there faces they should go back to there own country.

By Michael Campbell

Anything covering the face should be prohibited this is where western people realise if they can trust somebody by reading there facial expression. If i walked round in a balleclava then i would be unaccepted by the public same goes for full face burqa

By Kelly C

Maybe not ban the burqa as such but when it comes to identifiing someone as a bus driver , taxi driver and bank teller etc then there should be no tolerance what so ever. If they have a problem with that then hard luck go without money or a ride. Why should everyone else have to abide by these rules there should be NO exceptions. Hoodies are banned in shops because they can hide identities and burqas hide even more.

By ROSCO

Yes ban the burqa!!!!! this is new zealand it is not part of our culture,what they do in there own country is there business,i can't go into a bank with a helmet on, so why should they with a burqa