Face Veils are Intrinsically Dehumanizing
Reader comment on item: Burqas and Niqabs in the Classroom?
in response to reader comment: face veils are for modesty and protection.

Submitted by Paul Newcombe (Australia), Nov 1, 2007 at 05:29

The human face is the primary source of a person's outward human identity. The veil which completely covers the face of women erases their human identity from the public and is therefore dehumanizing. Women must always retain their humanity instead of being reduced to an object which has no distinguishing features from the next fully-veiled muslim woman walking along the footpath.

Toleration must have reasonable boundaries. The face-veil has a deeply dehumanizing impact upon the women who wear it (often by compulsion) and thus should not be tolerated in a free society which cherishes every individuals uniqueness and human attributes.

Wearing a head-scarf maintains appropriate modesty while allowing the woman to maintain her human identity. Therefore the head-scarf should be encouraged, for Islamic women who wish to maintain a modest appearance. The full face-veil, however, should be resisted by all who appose the intrinsic dehumanization of women.

Paul

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