Spain rejects banning burqas in public

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Spain rejects banning burqas in public
Posted 12m ago

MADRID (AP) — Spain's Parliament has rejected a proposal to ban women from wearing in public places Islamic veils that reveal only the eyes.

The proposal was debated late Tuesday; 183 lawmakers opposed the ban, 162 lawmakers voted for it and two abstained.

The nonbinding proposal had been put forward by the leading opposition Popular Party, which portrayed it as a measure in support of women's rights. The ruling Socialist Party opposed the ban.

Other European countries have also debated banning body covering clothing such as burqas or niqabs. Within Spain, the city government of northeastern Barcelona and some neighboring town councils have banned the wearing of such garb in public buildings such as town halls and hospitals.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-07-20-Spain-veils_N.htm

[gateley]

1. I can't help but remember when I was growing up the nuns at that time

were wearing the Catholic version of the Burgas :7. I can't imagine anyone banning Habits in public.

[happyslug]

8. Read the article, it is a ban on VEILS more then Burgas

It is the VEIL that is being banned. In certain Moslem segments (For example the Shiites in Iran REJECT the wearing of veils) veils are wear by women as part of their Burgas. Iranian Shiites reject the veil as being part of the Burga, they view the term "Veil" as being that part of the head dress that covers up their hair NOT their face. Other Moslems embrace the Veil.

Please note I am using the term "Veil" as that term is used in the west, a cover of the FACE. The term generally translated into English as "Veils" from the Koran (I have NOT done this research myself but repeating what others have said) was a covering of the hair and neck of a woman NOT her face. Thus what Nuns wear around their fact when in full habit, would be viewed as being "Veiled" within the generally accepted use of the term "Veil" among most Moslems.

On the other hand the Moslem Brotherhood (The main opposition in Egypt and a Sunni Moslem Group) seems to encourage the use of the term translated into English as "Veil" to include what we English speakers call a "Veil", something that permits one to see only the eyes of the woman wearing the "Veil". It is this use of a "Veil" that everyone in Europe is up in arms about, not the "Veils" used by Iranian Shiites that permit one to see the entire face of a woman.

A technical point, but one that is important in any debate on such "Veils" and the movement to ban them.

[Green_Lantern]

10. few nuns still wear habits..nuns choose whether or not to

Join orders that wear them.

I don't think women wearing burqas can choose to join a family who doesn't require a burqa.

[Critters2]

14. Really? Completely covering their faces? What order was that? nt

[Exultant Democracy]

2. Considering the whole Inquisition thing, I think this was a very wise move on their part.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. That was AFTER the Muslim rule...when the Catholic Church took over. ironic, isn't it?

http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/westeurope/spaninqui.html

The Spanish Inquisition
1478-1834

[Green_Lantern]

11. honestly Spain is kowtowing to fringe Islamists with this...

As it once did with strict Catholicism.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Kudos to Spain's Parliament for this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/spain_1.shtml

Islamic Spain (711-1492)

The Court of the Lions, an open space with a fountain surrounded by statues of lions The Court of the Lions, Alhambra, Spain ©

Islamic Spain was a multi-cultural mix of the people of three great monotheistic religions: Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Although Christians and Jews lived under restrictions, for much of the time the three groups managed to get along together, and to some extent, to benefit from the presence of each other.

It brought a degree of civilisation to Europe that matched the heights of the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance.

[a la izquierda]

5. Thanks for pointing this out.

I teach Latin American history, and I start every semester of the survey course with this very period. Not only does it give context to how the Spanish expanded imperially, but it also teaches my predominantly Oklahoma-bred student body something about the benefits of Islam during the era (math & science to name two); and it depicts the fact that, though there were most certainly instances of repression, the three religions did exist simultaneously.
Then we talk about the Inquisition.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. The Inquisition..which was started when the Catholic Church same to power......

I have visited Spain..and the Moorish influences abound..and they are exquisite...

and if my historical memory serves me..Southern Italy was under Moorish rule for a while as well.

[harun]

7. Your efforts are appreciated!

[nyy1998]

17. I was actually wondering if they took their own history into account

Esp considering that anything in south Spain has huge Muslim influence. The architecture there is absolutely breathtaking.

[truthrocks]

9. Somebody please help me out, here ...

For simply practical reasons, I want to be able to see people's faces when I'm walking around in the public square, so to speak. If it becomes commonplace, any freak with not good intentions could hide underneath a burqa. I'm not a paranoid person, but I am a single "mid-century" female and wise enough to be aware of my surroundings esp when in crowds. Please don't judge me on this, but what am I missing? :think:

[GOPNotForMe]

13. I think you are right that there is a legitimate state interest

in keeping people's faces visible in public. But all these burqa bans seem more like blatant attempts to target muslims. I confess to being torn as well and I am a huge civil liberties proponent.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. In what way is a 'freak' shown by their facial expressions?

If you're worried about people carrying concealed weapons, then you'd have to have everyone dress in skin-tight costumes. But I don't see that we really need to see people's faces in the street. I'd say you might consider it more polite to have one's face uncovered. But you could also say that dark glasses 'hide' 'not good intentions' about as well as a face veil. And they're considered a good fashion accessory by many.

[2Design]

12. too bad n/t

[David__77]

16. For some reason I read "burning burqas."

I don't really think either wearing or burning burqas should be illegal unless it can be demonstrated that there is a legitimate security concern.