The Niquab

In a multicultural society we must be continually aware that we do indeed live in a multi as opposed to a mono cultural society. As a result, cultural purists must accept that they must be prepared to compromise for the sake of a meaningful social order. Freedom for all requires tolerance from all. We live in a society with a significant Muslim community that is wracked by an Islamaphobia that is actively encouraged by significant sections of the political class, the police and the media. This has led to a national debate on the subject of Muslim women who wear the niquab, the face veil, which threatens to descend into cultural persecution.

A fundamental principle of a free society is that, regardless of what you think of someone else's behaviour, if it is doing no harm to anyone else, it is none of your business. Thus, we must ask the question, on any scale of harm, what does a woman wearing a niquab register?

Britain is quite accurately described as a multicultural society. A multicultural society means that we do not live in a monoculture, thus, whilst one culture demands respect for their cultural norms, they must be prepared to respect others, in other words, cultures must be prepared to compromise. Human society is largely symbolic, meaning that, with respect to language and human behaviour symbols are significant because they supply cultural meanings to words and behaviour. In British culture, the wearing of a face mask is symbolically negative as it normally conveys the threats of danger, violence, mugging etc. and is intimidatory. We feel uncomfortable being unable to see the full face as we associate such behaviour with pirates, bandits, muggers etc.

Thus, whilst the niquab presents no threat whatsoever physically, it does present a psychological and symbolic threat, even though our reason tells us that this threat is illusory. In situations like this our reason becomes overwhelmed by our emotional impulses. As a result, the Islamic community must accept that whilst they demand complete tolerance for their cultural beliefs and practices there appears to be a reluctance on their part to extend that same tolerance to the wider community.

As a result, a Muslim woman must be allowed to wear the niquab out of respect for deeply held personal belief and requires tolerance from a civilised society. Her right to wear the niquab must be protected. However, she must also accept the cultural norms of the wider society and understand that it is not always appropriate, and that there may arise particular circumstances, for example in court, hospital etc. where failure to see facial expressions and emotional responses makes the wearing of the niquab problematic. As the niquab is not a mandatory requirement in the Islamic faith, and is a matter of personal choice, insistence on the right to wear the niquab in all circumstances cannot be accepted as a moral absolute and is a form of behaviour that, in a cultural order such as modern Britain, requires compromise where appropriate.

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Doktor Kommirat