Veiled women in Australia

I am entering quicksand territory with this one!! But here goes anyway.

The security situation being as it is with identification required at airports (to collect internet booked tickets); at post offices to collect parcels; at banks to prove 100 points to open a bank account; to obtain a drivers licence; to obtain a passport; and many other instances and with CCTV surveillance cameras almost everywhere, how can someone wearing a veil be identified?

When driving (and I once was shocked to see a woman with a full face veil driving a motor car) how can someone wearing a veil see properly? At best their peripheral vision would be severely impaired. And the photographs taken by speed cameras are used to identify drivers – with a veil who can tell who is driving? Driving with a veil is dangerous. Motorcyclists are required to remove their crash helmets when buying fuel after hours from a service station to avoid this very problem – lack of adequate identification.

The laws of Australia – being a democratic country – require personal identification to vote. A facial image is the easiest to recognise, which is why those intent on anti-social activities wear some sort of facial covering to avoid identification. It would be easy enough for a man, intent on a less than generous activity, to disguise himself as a woman wearing all the paraphernalia and a full veil and do all sorts of damage.

Without a clear view of some one’s face it is difficult to carry on a meaningful conversation – facial expressions convey a great deal of meaning – their mood and emotional state.

Western women travelling to some Muslim countries are required to cover up – that is their law. I have no problem with that. But in Australia where openness and lack of any form of secrecy is venerated and where, in contrast, secrecy and lack of openness is treated with suspicion, veils in public places should not be allowed. Why brings their laws to Australia and why should we be forced to follow their law? In private they can do what they like.

If a husband is jealous or suspicious and does not want other men to see ‘their’ woman’s face then don’t draw attention to it. To me it matters not whether a woman is Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Christian or whatever. If attention is drawn to someone by their dress, then people look – of course who wouldn’t? But if it is just some woman walking down the sidewalk – who cares what religion she follows and which man she ‘belongs’ to? Australia is a free country - which may be difficult for them (the men)to grasp.

No veils to be worn in public places in Australia!