The Burqa

For some reason, "Dutch" and "burqa ban" don't really seem to go together. Afterall, this is the country that banned nudity on public beaches so as not to offend the Muslim members of the society. Which is why I was shocked to read on BBC today that the Dutch government is considering a ban on burqas in public places. The reason? Public safety and security.

Perhaps some people might have incriminating words written on their foreheads. I am really not aware of such occurrences since those drunken college nights when people wrote stupid things on each other's faces. But really, the worst that can happen is the embarrasment these people bring to themselves as they greet their neighbors the next morning.

Many people(myself included) may not agree with the practice of women wearing burqas. It is a sign of extreme male domination reinforced by a dangerous combination of church (or mosque) and state. But in a liberal state, such as the Netherlands, aren't people supposed to tolerate each other's culture? To what extent should a society tolerate cultural diversity without infringing upon fundamental human rights? And can a state infringe upon a group's religious freedom to protect citizens' fear of the unknown?

One day I overheard a freshman's story about how she was frightened by a woman in a burqa walking "with her back" towards her. People may be scared for different reasons. The ordinary, risk-averse person may very well choose to avoid such risks whenever possible. But, what is the risk, besides it being a figment of our imagination?