Mr. Jack straw is a prominent British politician and leader of the House of Commons. He also served as British Foreign Minister. He has urged Muslim women who wear a full veil to remove it when they talk to him in his constituency office in northwestern England. In Lancashire Telegraph, a local newspaper, he wrote “wearing the full veil is bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult,” and veil is “such a visible statement of separation and of difference.” He also said in an interview to the BBC that he would like to support the idea of the full veil’s being abandoned.  His remarks have ignited a furious debate.

There are two aspects of using veils. One is religious and other is cultural value. If we see it from religious point of view than it is clear in Islam that Muslim women should cover there bodies in front of other men. There are divisions about how to do it and there are different ways. In a few parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan the women use to wear “Burqa” to hide them. It completely covers the body and no part is visible. “Niqab” is a covering that allows only eyes to be revealed. “Hijab” Muslim women don’t cover there faces but all the body is covered. Many Muslim women only wear a “Chadar” or “Shaal” which is kind of open fabric to cover bodies. 

And if we see it from cultural point of view than every part of the world has different types of clothing for women. It ranges from big and bulky to small and there are tribes where women don’t use any clothing at all.  It’s not always associated with religion only but its tradition and people like to follow it. The Amish community in the USA and Canada are Christians but they live according to old beliefs and never use modern technologies. Their women also utilize full dresses. There are communities in Jews and Sikhs who don’t want to mix fully with the modern ways of living. Would anyone would say it also that he is disturbed by there lifestyles and it should be changed? But why does someone need to say it? Is there any need to bring changes in other communities or religions when actually they are not hurting anyone?

If anyone has an objection on using a veil by a woman because of her faith and religion tells her to do it then it’s her right and no one can deny it. By using a veil Muslim women don’t harm anyone. If someone is against the use of veil and a woman is only using it as a tradition then different cultures prevail in the world. Most of the people like to continue there traditions regardless of where they living. There are many western people living in other countries and mostly they wear western dresses. Should they also change their dressing according to the country they are living now? British ruled most of the Africa and Asia. They remained there for centuries did they ever change their traditions? Did they wear African dresses when they were there? No they never did that.

Usually Muslim women are not forced to wear veil and they do it by their own choice. One can argue that a hard line Islamic government may force women to use a veil whether she wants it or not. But in the UK and in other western countries how can someone force a woman to wear a veil? Many women like to use full veils and feel comfortable in them. According to many women people give them more respect, leave way for them, saved from discriminatory eyes of men and feel more secure. If a woman using a veil by her own will and feels good about it why should someone suggest for her to remove it? Still a large number of Muslim women don’t use any kind of veil in many Muslim and western countries and no one force them to do it.

Imagine if Mr. Jack Straw would have been a minority person in the Taliban controlled Afghanistan. As the Taliban have beards and if someone would have said to him that he doesn’t like to see Mr. Straw without a beard or I am disturbed when I see you so please don’t come to me unless you have a beard. What would have been the feelings of Mr. Jack Straw?

Why does only he have reservations about women using full a veil and feel disturbed by not seeing her expressions? He also can’t see the facial expressions of the person if he is talking on the phone. Will he stop using the phone also or will he give video phones to others because he likes to see face while talking?