Should women be banned from wearing veils in public - Essay Example

The wearing of the full face veil, as is represented in many interpretations of conservative Islam, has created a great deal of controversy within Western society over the past several years. Ultimately, the issue is contingent upon whether or not religious observance and the right of an individual to dress for behave in a manner that suits them should be respected to a greater degree than the norms, culture, or mores of other individuals. Ultimately, as a function of understanding this dynamic, as well as the Pro and con arguments that are utilized against and for it, the following analysis will discuss the issue of the face veil and attempt to draw a conclusion with regards to whether or not it should be “allowed” within Democratic Western society.

Firstly, the most salient argument against outlawing the veil in public is concentric upon individual liberty and discrimination against Muslims. Although there are certainly a number of nations that can be considered as representative of “Western democracy”, a core similarity that exists between all of these nations is a certain degree of self-determination and free will; within the confines of the existing law. By and large, personal liberty is a complement of all of these democracies. As such, those individuals that argue against a ban on the facial veil point to the fact that such a ban is inherently against the liberty and founding principles of the societies in question.

Moreover, due to the events of the past several decades, there is already a high level of distrust, suspicion, and oftentimes, right hatred, or Muslim individuals within society. Accordingly, those who argue against a band point to the fact that restricting the natural behavior of individuals, regardless of their religious interpretation, would only lead to a further escalation with regards to the hatred and distrust that are oftentimes placed against Muslim communities throughout the West.By means of comparison and contrast, those individuals that argue against allowing the veil in public, and promote the belief that it should be outlawed, also point to fundamental rights and interpretations of liberty and freedom as the backbone of their arguments.

For instance, those in favor of a band point to the fact that women’s rights are inherently guaranteed with regards to the democratic principles that define governance. As such, by restricting the mobility and potential level of integration that women can exhibit within society, a facial veil is tantamount to a level of second-class citizenship on the part of the woman; reducing her to a subhuman entity that is unreachable, untouchable, and has no place within the world. Another relevant issue that individuals leverage in terms of promoting a ban on the face veil is with respect to the security fears that such a situation creates.

Without being able to see who is under the veil, terrorists and other criminals can easily escape the view of the authorities.Whereas it is true that both of these sides have legitimate grievances and concerns with regards to the implications of a facial veil ban, it is the interpretation of this author that a free society which expects and promotes equal opportunity for all individuals cannot, in good conscience, allow a regression of these principles (The Veil Controversy). In such a way, allowing Muslims to where the full facial veil in public serves as something of an affront to the very ideals of democracy and freedom that so many individuals throughout the Western world have promoted at the cost of life over the generations.

Far from being a Xena phobic worldview, a ban on the facial veil, in public places, should only be done as a means of promoting the equal rights and representation of all members within society; ensuring that those who have come to this country as a means of repose from the hardship and suffering is that they might experience in their homeland should not be expected to reside under a patriarchal system of hegemony for the remainder of their lives.ReferenceThe Veil Controversy. Global Issue # 5.