In Europe* the headgear of Muslim women, especially those forms of it that obscure the face partly or entirely, is evoking a lot of negative public reaction from non-Muslims. Several countries have banned, or are considering banning, the "burqa." Belgium headed that direction last month; now France is considering a similar ukase.
The problem with banning certain forms of dress, of course, is that if those forms are worn only by members of a certain religion, it can appear to be (in fact probably is) religious discrimination. Muslims in Europe have noticed, and are complaining. Commentators in the U.S. have noticed, and Michael Gerson, for one, has penned a useful review of the issues, concluding that the French ban is insupportable.
Here in the U.S., we don't seem to have this problem just yet. So, perhaps it's time for a little more Lend-Lease -- advice instead of equipment?
Europeans, just solve this the way we do things here in the U.S.: Turn it over to free enterprise! Since full-burqa'd Muslim ladies resemble nuns anyway, probably a good businessman could offer incentives to them to make a minor swap of beliefs and "get them to a nunnery," thus replenishing the dwindling numbers of nuns in Europe's cloisters. Say what? You find that unserious? Irreverent? You're right, that was just my little joke. We don't want BP trying to keep the lid on women's facewear ... an explosion could result.
But here's a serious idea that really might work for beleaguered European governments: You are free, democratic societies devoted to the expression of individual will. Don't ban the burqa, don't challenge the chador, don't vituperate the veil. No!
Instead, pass a law declaring that all women will have a legally recognized right NOT to wear any religiously mandated headcovering, and that no woman's decision to abandon the veil may be interfered with in any way. This leaves the decision to the woman herself and meets human rights criteria -- it's a positive right, not a ban. Despite pressures from husbands and muftis, I believe it would not be long before at least some women - they'll need the courage of any pioneers of course -- would start deviating from the arbitrary dictates of others. Their example would cause others to follow suit. Some never would, of course, but over time it's likely more would exercise their right. And from the kernel of emancipation from the veil could develop other forms of emancipation as well.
* Footnote: The issue is not limited to European pluralistic democracies, either. It's been a hot-button topic in Turkey for many a year. However, the solution proposed above is probably not practical for Turkey, a 99% Muslim country, even though many shades of religious orthodoxy, from the purely secular to the radically fundamental, do exist there.
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