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Topic: NZ: police seek burka driving ban

Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795

posted 05 April 2006 09:56 AM

quote:
(Wellington) A New Zealand police officer has called for the all-enveloping burka garment worn by Muslim women to be banned from the roads, according to news reports on Wednesday.

Muslim women challenge Police Assoc over burka driving comments

[ 05 April 2006: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003 | IP: Logged

lagatta
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2534

posted 05 April 2006 10:24 AM

I think Afghan-style burkas are a legitimate safety issue (I know development workers and Afghan women who have worn them) because the women I have spoken to who have worn burkas say they really cut down on your field of vision and degree of vision even in front, as there is a grille over the eyes.

However, the police officers' union's comments are certainly out of line:

quote:
'We should learn from Europe and make sure that if people come to this country, they have to integrate, and there's no better time and place than on the roads driving, because that affects us all,' he told Radio New Zealand.

The Muslim Women's Association's comment seemed most reasonable, bringing what can be worn while driving back to a safety issue.

Dangling crucifixes and plastic saints can be a safety issue as well...

At least the burka wearers are HIGHLY unlikely to drink and drive.

From: Se non ora, quando? | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Mr. Magoo
guilty-pleasure
Babbler # 3469

posted 05 April 2006 12:28 PM

Wasn't there an issue in the U.S. a few years back wherein a convert to Islam insisted she shouldn't be forced to have her (recognizable) photograph on her driver's licence?

I think that where people's religious beliefs are at odds with the public good, the public good should win out (in a secular society, at any rate). I believe it did in the case of the driver's licence.

From: ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø, | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

Hephaestion
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 4795

posted 05 April 2006 03:48 PM

At issue in the driver's license case was whether she could keep her face partially veiled in her driver's license photo. Turned out she couldn't.

From: goodbye... :-( | Registered: Dec 2003 | IP: Logged

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