A historical look at the veil, its political use and abuse and its place in the hearts of those who wear it, points out the Hidden danger in tampering with the veil by Sally Neighbour, The Australian February 01, 2010

LIKE the Americans waging war in Afghanistan, the French demanding their government ban the burka would do well to look back in history at the experience of others who pursued a similar path.

The article urges the French people to consider the advice of the US Ambassador to Persia, William Hornibrook to the Shah of Persia in 1935:

“When the suggestion is made that the veil should be removed from Muslim women, His Majesty steps upon something which is far more important to the Islamic mind. He steps upon a tradition of longstanding, a custom which has been observed for centuries, and does violence to the feelings of his own people. It may be stated with certainty that the great majority of Muslims are enraged as a result of the reform.”

One of the challenges of living in a multi-faith society is to understand and empathise with the convictions of people who believe and so live in ways distinct from one’s own.

I have written more generally on this issue  Burqas and religious freedom  and its near neighbour Swiss minaret ban is bad. In Malaysia, sadly, the Government has appealed the victory for religious freedom gained when  Cns retain use of ‘Allah’ in Bible. It is salutory to reflect on The West’s fear of free speech.