Should Britain follow France’s lead and ban the wearing of the full face veil? In your groups sort through the material which could be used for or against the key question and then prepare a presentation using point using contrasting arguments with evidence to support. Make sure that you give consideration to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Success criteria In your presentation you must provide contrasting arguments with supporting reasons/evidence from contrasting perspectives; Muslim, Secular and your group view. You must identify contrasting Muslim and contrasting secular views. You must work as a team to analyse and evaluate the material into arguments for and against with supporting evidence/reasons. Finally, as a group, you must reach a conclusion to the key question; Should Britain follow France’s lead and ban the wearing of the full face veil?

Tony Blair has said the wearing of full face veils by Muslim women is a "mark of separation" and made some "outside the community feel uncomfortable". In his monthly press conference, Mr Blair said there was a need for a wider debate about community integration while allowing people to develop their "distinctive identity". Jack Straw, a leading British politician, argues that women wearing the face veil harms race relations.

“This country values religious toleration, wearing a veil is a private matter and concerns nobody else but the person wearing the garment”. “Wearing the hijab/veil is just a symbol of expressing faith, in the same way as Christians wear a crucifix, what’s the problem”?

The great 18 th century French philosopher Voltaire argued for toleration, freedom of religious choice and expression. A famous Voltaire quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” The great 18 th Century English philosopher John Locke argued for religious toleration. He argued, “Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others”

The veil has become a symbol for Muslim women, a way to assert their cultural and political independence and should not be seen as a garment of oppression. One Muslim girl wrote, ‘We want men to stop treating us like sex objects, as they have always done. We want them to ignore our appearance and to take notice of our personalities and mind. We want them to take us seriously and not just chase us around for our bodies and physical looks’. The veil is a liberating garment

The Quran seems to argue in favour of female modesty. Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty......And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms...." (Quran 24:30,31). "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested" (Quran 33:59). The Quran seems to argue in favour of female modesty. Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty......And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms...." (Quran 24:30,31). "O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies (when abroad) so that they should be known and not molested" (Quran 33:59).

We must treat religions equally, if we ban the veil then we must also ban the Sikhs 5 k’s! Consider this question; do you think that Muslim women who choose not to wear the veil might also feel uncomfortable at the sight of veiled Muslim women? This is a Muslim women; most Muslim women do not wear the face veil.

A French parliamentary committee has recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils In its report, the committee said requiring women to cover their faces was against the French republican principles of secularism and equality. Presenting the report to the French National Assembly, speaker Bernard Accoyer said "It is the symbol of the repression of women, and... of extremist fundamentalism.” The ban, which came after a year of debate and months of preparation, is viewed by supporters as a necessary step to preserve French culture and to fight what they see as separatist tendencies among Muslims. Polls show that the law is broadly popular in France, and it passed the lower house of Parliament with only one vote opposed.

A British politician has said that wearing the veil is a backward step for equal rights for women This country has a proud tradition of promoting equal rights for women. For example the Suffragettes and the movement for gender equality during the 1960’s; the face veil is a setback for gender equality.

Some British Muslims support the ban! The Journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown who chairs the group British Muslims for Secular Democracy, said she supported restrictions on wearing the face veil in key public spaces. "This covering makes women invisible, invalidates their participatory rights and confirms them as evil temptresses.” She said progressive Muslims came out "daily" against the burka, which was an "un-Islamic custom". "During the Hajj pilgrimage no woman covers her face. The burka makes women more, not less, conspicuous, and communication is unequal because one party hides all expression," she claimed. Some British Muslims support the ban! The Journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown who chairs the group British Muslims for Secular Democracy, said she supported restrictions on wearing the face veil in key public spaces. "This covering makes women invisible, invalidates their participatory rights and confirms them as evil temptresses. She said progressive Muslims came out "daily" against the burka, which was an "un-Islamic custom". "During the Hajj pilgrimage no woman covers her face. The burka makes women more, not less, conspicuous, and communication is unequal because one party hides all expression," she claimed.