Never heard this argument about Niqab before
Reader comment on item: How the Niqab Will Enter British Schools

Submitted by Jonh Goldstein (United States), May 28, 2007 at 15:23

Dear Mr. Pipes:

I have never heard this argument regarding wearing Niqabs (veils) in school and public places. I hope someone can provide me an answer. I think a dress that completely hides the wearers identitity is a public security hazard. Even if I grant that everyone who wears a veil in public is a pious religious person, it does not stop bank robbers, killers and child molestors to use niqabs to hide away from the public view. What is behind the veil does not even have to be a human. A remote controlled robot can be hidden behind a dark veil and used for disruption and violence.

A public scene in most societies is exactly menat to be what it is called -- public. For the health and safety of others, you are required to sacrifice your own privacy. Those who require privacy to an extent that they need to hide their identity, should stay indoors for as long as they need to hide their identity.

It only makes common sense. Is there an example in Islamic history where a veiled man used his disguise as a woman to kill a king, steal a treasure, or harm a woman. I am quite sure that there must be some. And suicide bombs were not even invented in those days.

I will appreciate some answers. Specially from muslim men.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I deal with precisely this issue at "The Niqab and Burqa as Security Threats."