Would you ban the burqa?

 MPs should focus on making a meaningful difference to improve society. 

If I were an MP and someone asked me if we should ban the burqa in public places right now, I would have to say NO.

• How does a ban help anyone in society? It doesn't. 
• How are burqas causing trouble?
• Banning this item of clothing merely upsets a very tiny religious minority for no benefit.
• Banning this item RESTRICTS the freedom of a small number of women to dress how they wish and express their religious views.
• MPs should focus on solving the real problems that affect many people.

I am pleased we live in a FREE society where people can be free to express themselves and have religious freedom.

Banning the burqa in public is a slippery slope towards legally defining what people may and may not wear. I believe in freedom.

Perhaps as many as 1,000 women wear it in the UK, and it affects no one else if they choose to do so.

ME: 

* I prefer to see people's faces.

* Being able to lip-read and recognise facial expressions is an essential part of communication and being an integral part of society.

Still, if a small minority opt for something different, I think that is OK.

The BURQA SHOULD BE BANNED in certain situations:

• such as in many workplaces, where communication is relevant (such as school teachers), 
• but these do not require parliamentary time taken up discussing the far-reaching ban suggested last week:

Sarah Pochin( MP for Runcorn and Helsby) :  “Given the prime minister’s desire to strengthen strategic alignment with our European neighbours, will he in the interests of public safety follow the lead of France, Denmark, Belgium and others and ban the burqa?”

HOW STRANGE!

The far-right were passionate about BREXIT.

They wanted us to leave the European Union.

Each country is unique; it faces different issues and can forge its own path.

There is no REASON for the UK to BLINDLY follow other countries.

NOTE: France actually bans face coverings -- All face coverings...

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As with other issues, I think public policy and laws should be evidence-based.

So, how many people actually wear the Burqa in the UK and where and when?

What is the evidence that the Burqa causes a problem in the UK?

What is the evidence that a ban on the Burqa in all public places will make anything better?