I think it´s right that burka should be banned, especially the saudi arabia/taliban style ones! However, I don´t think that all women are forced by their husbands to wear it, although their husbands surely enjoy their freedom and their wifes´ imprisonment. It´s not the burka that´s the root of the problem, it´s the overbearing, present everywhere sexism, objectification of women, patriarchal values that we are all brainwashed with from childhood. It is not truly liberating when women are forced to wear something, although I agree that some limits have to be set.

 I totally agree with you....  I used to believe women did not have a place in society unless they take of that headscarf (either forced by families or husbands) and those baggy clothes (specially the black ones, and the veil..) But now living in Dubai, where you can see women from everywhere around the world living in peace, in different positions in companies or government jobs, and making even some friends, I realised that:

1. They are not necessarily forced by somebody, but choose for themselves.

2. They can be and are as intelligent, humorous and social as us.

3. The burqa is sometimes the national dress code.

In my conversations, they told me that they feel fully naked when they don´t wear a hijab (a head scarf), they are bullied in Europe, US, Canada and Australia (mainly), while every other person can enjoy their choice of clothing, wearing bikinis, or not wearing at all.

And I do believe while we support freedom in belief and speech, we have double standards when people believe in something that we don´t.

Is that fair?? To allow someone to wear a tiny bikini and not to allow someone a burquini (which covers the body and the hair)???  And why don´t we strip off the nuns as well, they are fully covered too?????

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I do think when the face is covered, making identity very difficult, it´s going too far.

This caught my eye:  Americans are angry! 

http://specials.msn.com/A-List/Angry-Americans.aspx?cp-searchtext=Angry%20Americans&FORM=msnhal

 My god I am scared  What will happen to my farm if it succumbs to the wrath of those bed ameriken neighbuurs

1. They are not necessarily forced by somebody, but choose for themselves.

2. They can be and are as intelligent, humorous and social as us.

3. The burqa is sometimes the national dress code.

In my conversations, they told me that they feel fully naked when they don´t wear a hijab (a head scarf), they are bullied in Europe, US, Canada and Australia (mainly), while every other person can enjoy their choice of clothing, wearing bikinis, or not wearing at all.

And I do believe while we support freedom in belief and speech, we have double standards when people believe in something that we don´t.

Is that fair?? To allow someone to wear a tiny bikini and not to allow someone a burquini (which covers the body and the hair)???  And why don´t we strip off the nuns as well, they are fully covered too?????

Whoooaaaa there! I have no idea which region of the world you´re referring to but I don´t know a European country that allows walking naked in the streets. As a matter of fact, I have never seen people in bikini in the street even in 35C heat, so, please, do not compare beach outfits with everyday clothing as it´s a missed comparison. Even following your line of reasoning, allowing burka in the evil west should happen at the same time countries like Saudi allow women to wear bikinis in the streets or walk around naked. Besides, you failed to acknowledge another factor of why burkas should be banned - the public safety issue. I don´t think it´s allowed to walk in the streets in a balaclava. Why should it be allowed to wear burka? If I´m not mistaken you may get in trouble in certain cities if you have a hoodie on your head, how´s that regarding personal freedom?

Although, as you write, women are not necessarily forced to wear these discriminatory clothes, how can a country that grants equality tell the difference between women forced to humiliate themselves consciously and those who are forced to it?

Whoooaaaa there! I have no idea which region of the world you´re referring to but I don´t know a European country that allows walking naked in the streets. As a matter of fact, I have never seen people in bikini in the street even in 35C heat, so, please, do not compare beach outfits with everyday clothing as it´s a missed comparison.

I guess you have never been to Turkey, go to Antalya, Bodrum, Alanya, etc... I guarantee you see people in bikinis and swimming clothes shopping from the supermarkets, eating in reastaurant, topless women lying in the beach, in front of families and kids,like the most natural thing in the world. 

It´s not only bikinis.  I am living in a Muslim Arab country, but I still see people in the supermarket, and sometimes in the malls, with very tiny tank tops and tiny mini shorts which exposes half of their buttocks.

And are you telling me you don´t see them in Europe?  Well, may be you need some glasses.

 Even following your line of reasoning, allowing burka in the evil west should happen at the same time countries like Saudi allow women to wear bikinis in the streets or walk around naked. Besides, you failed to acknowledge another factor of why burkas should be banned - the public safety issue. I don´t think it´s allowed to walk in the streets in a balaclava. Why should it be allowed to wear burka? If I´m not mistaken you may get in trouble in certain cities if you have a hoodie on your head, how´s that regarding personal freedom?

I am not a supporter of Saudi Arabia, yet they never talk about freedom like you people do.  You are the ones who pushes everything to the limits and want everything to be free for you.  You can be Gay and get married, you can make fun of every religion and every important thing other people care about, but when it comes to freedom of belief in particularly Islam, and covering your hair, and wearing clothes that doesn´t show your curves, breasts and body, your support of freedom ends there.

Although, as you write, women are not necessarily forced to wear these discriminatory clothes, how can a country that grants equality tell the difference between women forced to humiliate themselves consciously and those who are forced to it?

So you think a women is humiliated when she doesn´t show her body shape, and her beauty to every man possible on earth, and they are great when they flirt with everyone, show their body to everyone, and satisfy your eyes.

You know what, people like you have turned the women into a piece of meat, and if you are telling me that you don´t notice a womens mini skirt at work, or her breasts in a very generous top  and choose a more beautiful women rather than a fat one to employ, YOU ARE A LIAR MY FRIEND.

 I hope I haven´t been too hateful... but I don´t like people to force me neither to cover up nor open up....

Freedom is for everyone.