Austria to ban full-face veil in public places

[LondonManc]

Is it because the UK is tolerant and believes in freedom of expression more than places like France and Austria where the state owns you?

Or because Austria has far more far-right fascists who will vote through this kind of thing, and far less veil-wearers to oppose it?

Ah yes, tolerance of others. Nicely reciprocated in other countries....

[northernladyuk]

Ah yes, tolerance of others. Nicely reciprocated in other countries....

So do you want to emulate Saudi or be better than Saudi?

[PurpleGorilla]

So do you want to emulate Saudi or be better than Saudi?

Forget the signs.

There is a cultural sensitivity that needs to be observed in Eastern countries (e.g. modest dressing in places like temples).

Similarly there should be a cultural sensitivity observing in Western countries (show your face in public places).

Moderation all round would be good, rather than extremes; thankfully most Muslims are moderate and dress moderately.

[northernladyuk]

Forget the signs.

There is a cultural sensitivity that needs to be observed in Eastern countries (e.g. modest dressing in places like temples).

Similarly there should be a cultural sensitivity observing in Western countries (show your face in public places).

Moderation all round would be good, rather than extremes; thankfully most Muslims are moderate and dress moderately.

So should the law, and potentially the criminal law, be used to enforce those cultural sensitivities in a free country, or should we accept that some people are just insensitive, just as some people might be rude and ignore their next door neighbours?

[LondonManc]

So do you want to emulate Saudi or be better than Saudi?

Why would I want us to perpetuate a brand of Islam that preaches hatred and intolerance?

Curious that Mecca is for Muslims only but other religions allow anyone to visit their holy sites.

[northernladyuk]

Why would I want us to perpetuate a brand of Islam that preaches hatred and intolerance?

Curious that Mecca is for Muslims only but other religions allow anyone to visit their holy sites.

So Saudi is a dreadful oppressive and intolerant place. Whereas we should be tolerant of people who want to dress differently, as long as they are not be controlled into doing so (which would be actionable as domestic abuse) by family members.

[LondonManc]

So Saudi is a dreadful oppressive and intolerant place. Whereas we should be tolerant of people who want to dress differently, as long as they are not be controlled into doing so (which would be actionable as domestic abuse) by family members.

We should be a lot of things but completely tolerant is not one of them. The game is wrong, not the players.

[woohoo]

So should the law, and potentially the criminal law, be used to enforce those cultural sensitivities in a free country, or should we accept that some people are just insensitive, just as some people might be rude and ignore their next door neighbours?

We should enforce laws that protect the individual regardless of cultural sensitivities.

[northernladyuk]

We should be a lot of things but completely tolerant is not one of them. The game is wrong, not the players.

But there is a difference between intolerance and the application of law to enforce that intolerance. Public nudity is against cultural sensitivities but is legal in England and Wales as long as the intention is not to harass, alarm or distress (more or less).

It seems very much against the principles of liberty to use the law against someone who chooses to dress in a certain way (assuming of course that is their choice).

[northernladyuk]

We should enforce laws that protect the individual regardless of cultural sensitivities.

So people who choose to dress in a way that is in opposition to mainstream cultural sensitivities should have their right to do so protected by law?