[Cloud]

I just don't like religion in general; so following extreme practices in the name of religion; legislating against those practices in the name of national safety . . . it's all bad.

I disagree with a full ban because that kind of thing does impinge on freedom and rights and for the backlash affect described. I do agree that common sense and security concerns say that faces should be visible in certain situations.

Most demonstrative Muslim women around here (this is not in Belgium, of course) wear a close fitting head wrap that covers their hair and neck, but leaves the face visible. Alternatively, I see other women who must be Amish or fundamentalist Christian wearing less occlusive headscarfs or kerchiefs, and long, covering dresses. I have no problem with their right to wear this kind of garb; but I would expect the same courtesy in return.

The thing that bothers me the most about veiling or "modesty" garments for women is that it is an extreme form of control of women, whether they like to admit it or not. These are patriarchal religions where the men jealously guard their power and barely admit that women are people. For all the young passionate women's protestations about identity and faith, to me they are merely buying in to this second class citizen belief system.

And that I do have a problem with. Did I mention I don't like religion? The misery and turmoil it causes just seem neverending.