Both Muslim, non-Muslim Brits support Sarkozy's anti-burkha call
24 Jun 2009, 1556 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

London, June 24 The body concealing burkhas should be banned in Britain, both Muslim and non-Muslim UK citizens have said in the wake of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's anti-burkha stand.

Many moderate British Muslims supported Sarkozy's remarks, who had said: "We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity."

Ghaffar Hussain, of the anti-extremist think-tank Quilliam, said: "There is nothing in the Koran that says you have to wear a burkha. To wear a burkha in modern Britain is not essential from any Islamist point of view. Also, wearing a burkha does limit a woman, restricting her in the jobs she can do."

Commonly used in Afghanistan, the burkha is an all-covering outfit that leaves just a slit for the eyes.

A total of 98 per cent of people said that Britain should ban the garment," a Daily Express poll found.

Among those welcoming the call for it to be banned was Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, who said the garment has security implications as well.

"One of the failed London bombers wore a burkha to get away, so the charge by some that the security issue is academic is also not true," Mr Murray said.

Sarkozy's call to ban the burkhas has drawn condemnation from the Muslim world.

Lebanon's most influential Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, urged Sarkozy to reconsider his remarks, saying the will of Muslim women who decide to cover their faces ought to be respected.

Italy outlawed the burkha in 2005 under anti-terror laws, while Turkey has banned headscarves in schools, universities and public offices. Three Belgian towns have banned burkas, and seven out of Germany's 16 states have banned headscarves. (ANI)

Related Latest

Sonia Gandhi assures support to wives of Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar Majority of Brits 'never discuss sexual health' Maoists call for a shutdown in Jharkhand More than half Americans fear rise of Muslim extremism UK's first female Muslim peer baroness claimed 100K pounds in allowances Countdown to Manmohan visit: Support and commendation for 'rising power' Chhattisgarh farmers call for shutdown US should support India for Security Council: American expert Muslim neighbours attend a Hindu marriage ceremony in Jammu and Kashmir Support pours in for Tendulkar after being slammed by Shiv Sena

Related Latest

What kind of China at PM's banquet? Security beefed-up in Mumbai ahead of 26/11 anniversary Test match against India starts from scratch, says Sangkkara Sonia Gandhi assures support to wives of Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar Indian sub-continent is prone to nuclear war: Army Chief Chhattisgarh man, a snake venom junkie Centre to set up six Spice Parks Widows of 26/11 martyrs meet Sonia 'Pigeon' McGrath still as miserly and deadly as in his hey-day India -ASEAN free trade agreement to come into force in January 2010

• What kind of China at PM's banquet?
• Security beefed-up in Mumbai ahead of 26/11 anniversary
• Test match against India starts from scratch, says Sangkkara
• Indian sub-continent is prone to nuclear war: Army Chief
• Sonia Gandhi assures support to wives of Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights