Diversity and Modesty among Muslim women
The Australian government has reversed a decision which would have restricted access to parliament in Canberra for women wearing full-face Islamic veils.
Earlier this month, parliament said anyone visiting the building with their face covered would have to sit in a separate area of the public gallery.
The move was widely seen as being aimed at Muslim women in burkas or niqabs, prompting discrimination accusations.
Officials said visitors would now have to show their face briefly to security.
“Once this process has taken place, visitors are free to move about the public spaces of the building, including all chamber galleries, with facial coverings in place,” the Department of Parliamentary Services said in a statement.
The plans would have affected Muslim women wearing niqabs, full-length garments where only the eyes are visible, and burkas, where no part of the face can be seen.
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The policy reversal apparently came after Tony Abbott suggested “common sense should prevail”. The fact that everyone who enters Parliament House has to pass through a body scanner anyway might be one element of common sense he was referring to.”
Stephen Parry, president of the Senate, said the initial ruling had been made because of rumours that a group of people were planning to attend prime minister’s questions on 2 October wearing veils and stage a protest in the public gallery.
He said the measure was intended to be temporary and, as it had come on the last day of the parliamentary session, had never been enforced.
‘Segregation’
Prime Minister Tony Abbott – who has previously described burkas as a “confronting” item of clothing which he wished people would not wear – had asked Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to “rethink that decision”.
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Additional reading
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Categories: Europe and Australia, Hijab
I think Burqa of face veil will gradually go by the way side, at least in the Western countries and Hijab will stick. Personally, I do not know of a any lady who uses face veil, whereas, I would know hundreds around our community who wear Hijab.
These restrictions no doubt hinders one’s personal freedom.But at the other hand the spirit of modesty is important too and it depends upon ones cultural and religious and bindings.