Why Countries Like France & Germany Are Banning The Burqa & Burkini

The world was recently shocked by the news of armed policemen in France conducting rounds on beaches, making sure that everyone complies with the new law which bans women from wearing the burqa and now, the burkini. Two policemen walked up to a woman wearing a burkini, and she was told to take it off in public, and then handed a fine.

If you’re unfamiliar, the burqa is an outer layer of garment worn by women to cover their bodies in public and the burkini is a modest type of swimwear for women, both often worn in Islamic traditions.

France prides itself as a secular country that is against oppression of women, but their solution of moral policing with the backing of law does not quite gel with their progressive reputation.

Apart from this incident, four other women were fined 38 euros for wearing burkinis on the beach in Cannes.

The Mayor of Cannes explained, “A beach outfit showing in an ostentatious manner a religious affiliation, given that France and religious places are currently the target of terrorist acts, has the nature of creating risks of troubles of public order (mobs, conflicts, etc.) that are necessary to be prevented.”

Screen Shot 2016-08-26 at 11.19.33 — Photo: Twitter

While it was a measure of prevention, there is no direct correlation between the burqa and religious attacks. If anything, banning the burqa and the burkini may incite extremism even more.

A professor from City University London, Dr. Sara Silvestri who specialises in religion and politics, told CNN, “Al Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State thrive every time Western countries give them ammunition to say that the West is discriminating or stigmatising Muslims.”

Here are some countries that have completely, or partially banned the burqa: National ban – Germany, France, Belgium, Chad, Gabon and Republic of Congo, Local ban – Cameroon, China, Italy, Nigeria, Russia, Spain and Switzerland, Partial ban – Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Syria and Malaysia, Proposed ban – Egypt, Netherlands and Tunisia

While France uses ‘terrorism’ to justify the ban, in Germany, it’s for ‘communication’.

“We all reject the full veil – not only the burqa but also other types of full veil that only leave the eyes visible … It has no place in our society,” Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters.

“Baring one’s face is essential for our communication, co-existence and social cohesion and that’s why we’re asking everyone to show their faces. We want to introduce a law to make people show their faces and that means that those who breach that law will have to feel the consequences.”

Germany also banned face veils in school and universities, and the law forbids women from wearing veils while driving.

While the majority are criticising France’s ban on the burqa, some also came to its defence..