Can someone please explain what this is all about?

[TimberWolf]

When I was a kid/young man in Bolton, we had, err a lot of Asians, including muslims. I don't recall any burqas then or face covering.

I tend to think it's either fashion thing in the islamic community (unlikely!) or a deliberate attempt to antagonise. I must admit I think they look awful and a bit 5th Century...

Warm in winter though I bet.

[Mich the Tester]

I tend to think it's either fashion thing in the islamic community (unlikely!) or a deliberate attempt to antagonise. I must admit I think they look awful and a bit 5th Century...

There weren't any burqas or niqabs in Holland either until various politicians started whingeing about muslims, trying to ban even teh most basic headscarves and blaming them for everything that goes wrong. It's action-reaction; I think a lot of them are just protesting by wearing one.

I know a woman who's from an Indonesian background (father christian, mother muslim), she studied biology and is almost as religious as Richard Dawkins, but has taken to wearing a headscarf as a means of protest; she says she knows a few others like her.

[BoredBloke]

When I was a kid/young man in Bolton, we had, err a lot of Asians, including muslims. I don't recall any burqas then or face covering.

I tend to think it's either fashion thing in the islamic community (unlikely!) or a deliberate attempt to antagonise. I must admit I think they look awful and a bit 5th Century...

Same here. Rochdale has a high percentage of Asian people and I can't remember women dressed like this. I watched a couple eating in Manchester and assumed that she might remove the part covering her face. But she didn't, it looked a bit of a pain to have to eat with one of them on. She had nice eyes though!

The other thing about making women wrap up from head to toe in black cloth is that it must be horrible on hot days or in hot parts of the world.

[TimberWolf]

[dang65]

It's interesting that, even on the Daily Mail site, the poll asking whether we should impose a similar ban in the UK stands at 87% against a ban, 13% for.

France has supposedly banned this face covering because 'the Republic lives with its face uncovered'. As above, does this include nuns' habits, sunglasses, hoodies, motorcycle helmets? How about beards on men?

Walking around in England, I can't help thinking that it would be a good idea if far more people covered their faces up.

[Mich the Tester]

It's interesting that, even on the Daily Mail site, the poll asking whether we should impose a similar ban in the UK stands at 87% against a ban, 13% for.

Lots of 'these people...coming over here...blabla_predictable_boring_old_bulltulip...' type comments though.

[cailin maith]

The other thing about making women wrap up from head to toe in black cloth is that it must be horrible on hot days or in hot parts of the world.

And the other thing I always wonder is how the little kids know which one is their mam? That always intrigues me.

[Mich the Tester]

And the other thing I always wonder is how the little kids know which one is their mam? That always intrigues me.

erm...turn up the bottom and see if they recognise their origins?

[cailin maith]

erm...turn up the bottom and see if they recognise their origins?

I guess that is one way!

[TimberWolf]

Mirrors on the floors. They are stark bollock/punani naked under the cloth like Scotsmen. Disgusting.