Niqab is the “British way”

From The Telegraph U.K.

Islamic face-veil part of ‘British way of life’

The full Islamic face-veil is a part of the “British way of life” and should be celebrated along with religious symbols such as the crucifix, according to a report published today.

By Tim Ross, Religious Affairs Editor
Published: 8:30AM BST 16 Oct 2010
Islamic face-veil part of 'British way of life'

Politicians in France and Belgium have voted in favour of banning the full veil Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Opponents of the veil claim it oppresses women and presents a barrier between those who wear traditional dress and the rest of society.

But in a new report from think-tank Civitas, Alveena Malik, a former faith adviser to the last Labour government, said the test of whether religious symbols are appropriate should be based on whether they are practical.

Politicians in France and Belgium have voted in favour of banning the full veil, or “niqab”, and other European countries are thought to be considering similar action.

In a new report, Women, Islam and Western Liberalism, Mrs Malik said: “We in Britain need to take a different direction from others in Europe and to accept the veil as part of a modern British way of life.”

She continued: “The wearing of religious symbols, including the full veil, should be a fundamental human right of an individual in both the public and private sphere.

“The real test for religious symbols in the public sphere should always be: ‘Does the wearing of a symbol (such as the kirpan, turban, yarmulke, crucifix and the veil) hinder a citizen’s ability to perform their public civic duties?’”

Britain is in a “unique” position to embrace such a public display of faith because of the role the church plays in the affairs of the state and its “multicultural diversity”.

Mrs Malik was appointed by last government to a panel of faith advisers for the Department for Communities. She has overseen British Council guidance on “intercultural dialogue”.

5 Replies to “Niqab is the “British way””

  1. What an idiotic idea. Covering one’s face means that a crime can be committed. Muslims are notorious for criminality. They will get their jihadist dressed up as women and blow us all to kingdom come. Not so long ago a jewellary store was robbed by muslim men dressing up as women. It is licence to commit crime.

  2. Useful idiots are always with us, and the left wing media will always find them to talk about how we should surrender.

  3. The UK is swiftly moving toward becoming Britainistan.

    This so-called report ignores the thousand year history of the UK, and the fact that recently, the British were fighting the an ideology that could be considered the European equivalent of Islam: Nazism.

    The niqab is as much a part of Britain as the yellow star is for Jews, or pink triangles is for gays and every bit as discriminatory.

    The PC pundits will glad-hand each other over this report, which does nothing at all to disguise the fact that Muslims will never integrate into the western way of life and seek every means to destroy it in favour of sharia law.

  4. You are right the Moslems will never integrate, the have always spread the Arabic culture along with Islam, the only place that has managed to hang on to some of its old culture after their conquest was Iran. I still say that the Brits are going to revert to type and decide to fight back, but I have been wrong before. I just hope I’m not wrong this time.