My fellow muslims we should not worry,The west is trying to help us.
Look at Iraq,Afghanistan, or any other muslim country even without asking they come and help us.
They only want to ban muslim identity for our protection and our overall good.
They fear us yet they occupy our lands,put in place puppets who claim to represent us,Don't allow us nuclear technology as it would be dangerous for us.
Come on muslims be a little more imaginative,Say the right things but practice and believe the right way.
They preach "When in rome" but they invade our countries with machine guns.
I think a bearded old man living in a cave was right about the west.

The issue here is one of civil liberties - people have a right to drss themselves as they wish.. Mr hollbone may infer that some are oppressed, but he is unlikely to reduce that by making them feel vicitimised too. Are we going to compel jewish men to remove ski#ull caps? or indian women to reget rid of the sari?? i suspect not. the reality is - and I speak from bradford, in a school with thousand of predominatly asian muslim students - that a tiny minority of women wear the niqab (veil) and an even tinier minority the burkha. Many of those who wear the veil are younger and are being quite militant about their dress - I strongly suspect that if we leave them alone, they will, of their own volition, choose not to wear it in a few years.

if we REALLY want to do something about race relations and equality, we might start with a wholsesale closing of every religous school in the country, followed by legislation separating education and religion. It is entirely wrong in the 21st century that faith communities should be allowed o cut themselves off from the rest of society in a public education system. The government needs to withdraw funding from all religious schools forthwith, and ensure that education is secular and balanced. Religion is a personal matter, education a matter for society.

Muslims take note of democracy at work,You are free to say what you want,wear what you want,befriend whomever you want yet despite this freedom we muslims cannot have minarets on our masjids or wear the veil both extremely dangerous and a danger to western democracy.
What next are we going to be forced to walk around half naked,Bear children out of wedlock and make pornographic films.
Many women choose to wear the veil yet we have posters screaming in agony of our treatment of veiled women yet they spit,swear and assault our sisters daily in the street.
Hypocrites.

I would remind posters on here that apart from the swiss "minaret ban", none of these anti - muslim measures have yet moved into law in any european country. There is a good chance that the swiss alw will be overturned, as I hope. Mohammed (above) is correct that muslims are free to act, befriend and so on; so it is, and so it should always be. However, i would also point out that there is a degree of misogny inherent in some cultures which use religion to oppress women. Christianity, h#judaism and silam are all guilty of that to some egree, and it is incumbent on all those faith communities that their members are fully free to practice as their concisnce dictates. I understand that the qu'ran talks of "modest" dress - it is up to the individual to decide what that is, and then to make their peace with god. If women wish to "walk around half naked", so be it god will judge tham and we should not.

There may be a lot more opposition to any proposed ban in the UK since the Muslim community here is far better organised than in the rest of Europe. I think an issue that we need to address within our own community is the need for unity on this issue. Many Muslims have a personal position on the niqab (myself included). Some of us feel that women are not required to wear it, others have a much stronger opposition to it. However, everyone must understand that any proposed ban is not about a ban on a piece of cloth that very few women choose to wear, rather it is an attack on a religious group - namely Muslims. Moreover, it is one of a concerted campaign of attacks. these will not stop with the niqab.

The picture at the top of the article speaks for itself. It is a sad, lonely and detached from reality kind of picture.

Mohammed: you describe women wearing hijab happily. Have you wondered why only Muslim women wear burqa? I come from pakistan and remember my mother wearing it in early 50's in the heat and when she came back she needed a cool bath and always asked me, when I was only 8 or nine to go out and do shopping for her. 'I will get a heart attack, she said in the street, she used to say..

I find this a complete disgrace to the Muslim society, I believe that anyone can express their religion and what their god orders them to do..
And I agree with Muhammed

Veils are like prison walls which keep 'them' in and us out. These walls have to be broken down. I have seen women wearing burqa likes in South Africa with temperatures of nearly 36C. Assure you it is like hell inside. I suggest men take over from them for a few weeks and you will see how quickly burqa disappears.

Muhammed,

You really must learn to read and understand before posting.

The wearing of a veil by a Moslem woman, or a man for that matter, is NOT a crime in this country. You know that as well as I do. I have no intention of challenging any woman, no matter how bizarre her dress. Read my words more carefully. If you cannot understand plain English, say so and I will try to help you.

If you wish to judge whether the two cases I highlighted are genuine or not I suggest you visit the islamweb website and judge for yourself. I mentioned these cases as you claim to be ignorant of the existence in this country of numerous shelters for Moslem women escaping abuse from male members of their families. Talk to your local social workers if you need more information.

The fact that abuse of children exists in many countries and other religions does not justify the problem in the Moslem community. I have not ever suggested that this is purely a Moslem problem so you are telling a lie. Again, try to read my posts more carefully.

I am not waging a crusade against sexual abuse of Moslem women, just attempting to fill large gaps in you knowledge.

Let me try to explain the issues surrounding the wearing of the veil in this country. The majority of people in this country regard the extremes of dress worn by some Moslem women as bizarre and undesirable. This view is shared by men and by women, and also a considerable number of Moslems. The desire to hide oneself completely from the world is undeniably bizarre. It is seen as undesirable as it is alien to European culture, it has adverse implications for hygiene and health issues for the wearer, and, although not a religious requirement, it is promoted by mainly male adherents of Islam. We know from countless women from the Moslem community that there is enormous pressure put upon women to wear this bizarre clothing against their will by male members of their family and of the Moslem community. In saying this, I concede that there are some Moslem women who claim to enjoy the veil.

The women who hide their faces by wearing the veil are prevented from normal intercourse with the rest of the community, which disqualifies them from most forms of employment and interferes with most forms of activity outside the home. There are also obvious security issues surrounding people who hide their identity in public. If the wearing of the veil has any merit within the Moslem community, why is it not worn by Islamic men?

I would like to see the wearing of the veil in public banned in this country for the enormous benefit of Moslem women but also for the benefit of the rest of the population. This is consistent with my view of other bizarre behaviour, such as the desire to walk around in the nude, which is illegal and should remain so.

There are restrictions imposed by all Moslem countries on the behaviour and dress code of visitors in order to conform to local cultural norms and religious rules. Why is that so difficult for some people within the Moslem community to understand that this should apply equally in this country?

If you wish to reply, Mohammed, please, please read what I have written carefully and try to understand it before touching your key board. Do not put words I have not spoken into my mouth.

repressive?
are you a moron seriously ?

Do you know how many women wear the veil in Hollobone's seat of Kettering? Zero. Do you know how many wear the hijab? Two.

I think Blazers should be banned. Wearing them is very strange. It's a tradition forced on reluctant young men but fanatical parents, often as part of religious Sunday rites. However, banning them would unfairly discriminate against members of the Young Conservatives, who in the end may elect to wear tweeds if they so wish.

I see buqa's everytime I go into Kettering Mehdi. You wouldn't have thought so, but 12 years of New Labour...

john I don't doubt that there are "moslem" women suffering domestic abuse but What I am sure of is that a hell of a lot women who are not "moslem" also suffer domestic abuse daily.
Take the latest England football match as an example of the increase in domestic violence,Somehow I dont beleive the majority of cases involved "moslems".
This is not thoery or opinion but a statement of fact.
Your claims the veil is forced on the majority of "moslem" women is like saying most christian priests abuse little boys and girls,Absolute rubbish.
Veiled women work ,shop,do the school run,go to parks etc etc but wherever they go they are confronted by some people who are filled with hate.If the concern was they are being forced to wear the veil then where is your kindness and compassion?
Why not show some respect?
"Why is that so difficult for some people within the Moslem community to understand that this should apply equally in this country?"
Well simply put this country is a democracy where one has certain freedoms guaranteed.
If you don't like the freedom this country affords its citizens then perhaps you should leave.
Regards this bogus site you refer too,I can point you in the direction of a site run by "moslems" who have thousands of women escaping terrible abuse at the hands of none "moslems".
Probably bogus too but I am sure some take the statements on this site as gospel.

Sharif muslim women wear the veil, not all but some,Sikh men wear a turban and don't shave any of their hair, not all but some and hindu women worship their husband's, not all but some.
Just in case you were wondering.
What are you trying to say,Your mother was forced to wear a veil?she endured all the hardship's of a veil because she chose to or was she forced to wear a veil by your father?
Research Islam and you will find women were elevated to a lofty status far earlier than any western democracies.Go and ask the many hindu,sikh cristian women why they chose Islam in later life.I assure you it was not to be humiliated or become slave's to male master's.

Why is it mostly middle aged white men who have a problem with Muslim women wearing veils? The rest of us are more concerned about young people in hoodies who, by-and-large, are more likely to stab us than the average Asian lady.

The wearing of the veil and burka has nothing to do with religion; its more a political statement, and franky, it is offensive, to both the wearer as well as the observer.

David?

Marginalised??

Really????????????

wow. i want me some of that marginalisation. then i could do all sorts of things that others couldnt because everyone is scared i might blow them up

Oh yes, they definitely have a problem, to hide behind the veil, and not face the world.

Muhammed,

I have not called you any names and I have not criticized Islam. These are more lies. You are paranoid. I have criticized one aspect of the culture of immigrants from some Asian countries; the imprisonment of women behind the veil. This has nothing to do with Islam. It is not a religious issue. The wearing of this type of bizarre clothing is a cultural aberration, set in place by, moderated by and encouraged by men. It has nothing to do with Islam. You need to read the Quran in order to educate yourself. If you do not have a copy, let me know and I will refer you to an online edition, in whatever language you wish.

In this country, as in all countries, we ban many things to protect people and to allow them to pursue their lives in a rewarding fashion. We ban all types of crime and punish the offenders. We ban activities that infringe people’s human rights and things that offend public decency. We ban racial, religious and sexual discrimination and punish offenders. This happens also in every Moslem country although, as you know, there is often a difference in type and severity of the punishment. Banning things and making things illegal has nothing to do with human rights per se. To suggest otherwise is ludicrous.

You appear to have an amazing ignorance of Islam and of the Moslem community in England. I have worked with Moslems in many different Moslem countries. While living in Switzerland and USA I worked with Moslems. In Britain, I lived for 5 years on the fringe of a large Moslem community. My neighbours were Moslems and many of my friends were and are Moslem. For several years I had a girlfriend who was a Moslem, an Egyptian lady living in Cairo.

Although I am not a Moslem, I understand the religion and I understand the day to day aspects of the Moslem community in Britain. I know many Moslem women who vehemently oppose the wearing of the veil.

From my perspective, you reveal your ignorance of all the relevant issues with every post you make. You deliberately misquote me and take offence to everything.

Muhommed, you are an ignorant man and your posts are boring. This whole correspondence is boring the readers. Therefore, this correspondence is terminated.

Hollobone has previously described wearing a burka as like “going round with a paper bag over your head”.

The backbencher was one of 20 MPs drawn in a ballot for the chance to get a Private Members' Bill on the statute book. Because he was only drawn 17th in the ballot, his Bill stands virtually no chance of becoming law.

Fordr me the issue is more complex than either this article or most of the responses make out.

Yes, some women are forced to wear the veil but many are not and do so out of choice. I'd be surprised if the constant vilification of Muslims doesn't cause many young Muslims to decide to wear it.

However, the vast majority of people I've met or seen opposing the veil are clearly just old-fashioned racists - the Nazi EDL being the obvious example. Are we really to believe a bunch of sieg-heiling skinheads are, as well as xenophobic and drunk, are also passionate feminists? Don't think so.

There are real concerns about the segregation of Muslim communities, but a veil will only make this worse. Along with forcing democracy on a country, forcing liberation on women is appauling hypocrisy.

To sum up; the man is a Tory. What's more likely, that he genuinely cares about womens' rights, or just that he's a xenophobe?

'without being sidetracked into forced marriage,FGM'
...I am sure anyone with any sense will see the connection between these issue and the full face veil. Forced marriage,FGM are all part of the oppression of women under Islam.

'Like I have said before try to liberate women of the veil on your crusade and you will find the police close behind you.'
hhmmm,On your jihad for the veil you seem to forgotten to remind us that any woman not sufficiently veiled in many Islamic countries will have the Muslim 'virtue' police not just close behind them but in fact all over them usually beating them with clubs.
Your instance on women being dressed in what resembles a full body 'bin-liner' in order to protect you from your lust is in fact truly desperate.
As you seem to feel that it is perfectly reasonable to tell women what to wear in Muslim countries why do you find it so hard to except that maybe in this country we feel that we able to assert the same right as it is still our country,a country in which it is regarded as impolite not to show ones face in public.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do". Has anyone ever heard Phillip Hollobone advocating that when western families go to Arab countries they should wear the local dress and run their household as local custom dictates.