Extended Writing Task Ban The Burqa

question_id: 5508

Should The Burqa Be Banned In Australia

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the wearing of a burqa in Australia should be entirely banned. At first glance, there may not seem to be much reason to forbid women from wearing these face coverings. However, there are strong arguments for both sides of this debate.

It is important not to confuse the burqa with the niqab or hijab. The niqab is a total head to toe body covering but leaves the eyes exposed. The hijab, on the other hand, is basically a scarf that covers the head and neck leaving the face uncovered. The Burqa is a total head to foot covering with a mesh or veil covering the eye area.

The Argument For Banning the Burqa

The burqa is a full face and body covering which makes it problematic in certain situations where identification is of prime importance. For example when applying for a driver’s licence or using a passport as a means of identification in an airport.

A burqa may pose serious security risks. Any person can don a burqa without question and commit a crime. They are more likely to be unrecognisable and therefore get away with the act. This could be both a private and national security issue for Australia.

There are certain cultural and religious connotations related to the wearing of a burqa in that is mostly enforced in countries and religions that notoriously oppress women. Banning the burqa may be a means to speak against this oppression.

The burqa is seen as a symbol for radical Islamic movements and can be viewed as threatening to the current way of life and freedoms of Australian citizens. There are a number of different interpretations as to the meaning of covering the body that is extrapolated from the Koran. Muslims from different religious sects therefore either wear the hijab, niqab or burqa. However, the burqa is generally only worn by women from extreme religious sects.

It is a call only and specifically for the ban of the total face covering that the burqa provides and women would still be free to wear either the hijab or niqab.

The Argument Against the Banning of the Burqa

At the very core of the matter, banning the burqa is an infringement of the constitutional rights of Australian citizens. Legislation may therefore not enforce laws that prohibit a person from freely practicing any religion.

A woman should be allowed to wear a burqa if she so chooses without interference from the government or law enforcement. Although there is no particular provision made in the Constitution of Australia for the freedom of expression, it is implied through various other provisions in different sections.

The action to ban the burqa could lead to the further oppression of women in other ways. For example, a woman who is not allowed to wear her burqa may be prevented from ever leaving the house. Her husband, father or another controlling person may place further restrictive measures upon her.

The burqa is an expression of a woman not wanting to be touched or ogled in public. Removing this option may preclude her from going out in public.

Although the argument for banning the burqa may seem to weigh heavily in the favour of legislating the ban, the fact that the action is an infringement on the Constitutional right to practice religion is a very weighty argument in and of its own.

If the ban is allowed to proceed, it can be assumed that other civil rights and liberties may be next on the agenda as this banning could set a precedent.

What do you think?