http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8481617.stm

What do you think?

Personally, burkas and niqabs wouldn't bother me as much if I thought it was a matter of free will, and not imposed by social or religious ruling.

No.

In fact they should impose it on more people, men included, if you fall very low on the munter scale.

Only if the biatch is ugly.

Are we to try and ban beards next? They cover up quite a lot of the face.

I never thought I'd see the day where the Fashion Police actually came into existence.

It depends on the context. If the said person is working in a school/airport/hospital then yes. If its just a person wearing it because they want to then they should be able to wear it whenever there isn't a security issue.

So nowhere in the UK as defined by the police if there constant oppression of innocent terrorist.. sorry photographers/tourists.

No, I don't think it should be banned, any more than I would expect people wearing crosses, beards, red trousers or pentacles to be banned from wearing them. I don't have a problem with it anywhere, since there are females present for searches in airports etc I don't see any issue with those same females doing identity checks at the same time. I'm not sure why it should be a problem in hospitals or schools either?

So are you saying that the security issue is because there might be something dangerous hidden beneath the article of clothing in question ? If that is persued to it's logical conclusion ....

I'm assuming Hobgob means from an identification point of view since he cited schools/airports/hospitals, but I could be wrong.

I've seen signs in places (pubs, clubs, garages, shops, etc) that ask their customers to not wear hoodies (not that it bothers me), I presume because it covers too much of their face. If people wearing hoodies are being asked to take off their hood, then people wearing veils should need to take off their veil. I've got little problem with them wearing it, but treat everyone equally.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions in the public and media.

Anybody wear what the hell you like, but, if you need to be identified in certain areas then you show your face.

Turkey has applied this rule for years, anybody in public buildings, such as University Libraries, has to be identifiable and you can't have your face covered.

Outside of those areas, then wear what the hell you want IMO.

It's not a big issue really.

In a word? No.

No.

Make provision for it such as side rooms for identity confirmation and leave it at that.

Stop banning stuff.

They can try, but is it really worth the wrath of the League of Exploding Beards? They're not known for their democratic way of resolving issues close to their hearts. France has clearly led the way here, lets see how it pans out.

Don't know.

One one hand it's their belief, on the other it's subjugating women and making feel like they should be second class.

I just don't know.