Just plain old Islamophobia.
Why wait data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Don’t think it is actually, I mean it’s a cultural rather then religious form of dress isn’t it?
Denmark has banned it now as well, together with a whole raft of other face covering headwear. And issued the first fines for those continuing to wear it.
To me this is more about Bojo being stupid at best to express the comments he made in public.
I think we're entering into a grey area.If it is a cultural norm for followers of a particular religion to wear a particular garment, and not for non-believers to wear that same garment, then is attacking the wearers of that garment tantamount to attacking the followers of the religion?I don't know but it's potentially a sticky situation to wade into.
A quick look on wikipedia (yes, not a totally reliable source) shows that the Jewish kippah is the result of the requirement to cover one's head in the presence of God.It seems to me the requirements for wearing it are still subject to debate and argument amongst Jewish scholars and rabbis and also that the form of that covering has evolved over time, but the requirement is simply to cover one's head.
This is similar to Sikhism where turbans were chosen simply because they made the men look more regal/important, but it could have been a simple piece of cloth tied like a headscarf, which is what I wear on the very odd occasion I go to a Sikh temple for a wedding or funeral, as I'm not religious.
So, if BoJo had made a comment about turbans or kippahs (not sure what the plural is as I'm not familiar with Hebrew), would he have been in a similar situation?Criticising a form of religious dress that is cultural rather than proscribed specifically by the religion to be in that form and that form only.
No one should say things like the women look like pillar boxes or such like. It is disrespectful to foreigners or of that particular religious group. To our culture the Burqa does look very oppressive. It even looks a bit scary if you haven't seen if before. I suspect Bojo sees a lot of them around Kensington and Chelsea these days as that is where many Saudis live or stay.
Having worked and lived in Saudi for donkeys it's hardly a new thing to me but I do have a problem with this particular dress code being adopted by Islamic cultures from other countries. It's not something I want to see become the norm for all Muslim women in Britain. But with the money that is coming here from the Middle East, it's difficult to stop.
Although stupid and deliberately playing to his potential 'base', this isn't racist Boris.
This is racist Boris ...
Boris Johnson suggests 'part-Kenyan' Obama may have an 'ancestral dislike' of BritainAs ill advised as Obama was doing that as a favour to the British PM, Boris' personal racist put down was still disgusting and, as the Mayor of London, makes his successor's conduct towards POTUS appear warm and cuddly.
But at least he’s no a socialist, heaven forfend
Surprising isn’t it data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
The point I attempted to make is that islamphobia is all encompassing. The burka specifically is worn by a tiny tiny minority. Further more his comments were about it looking ridiculous, which is inappropriate but not to dissimilar in suggestion that those ill fitting black suits and oversized white shirts some Orthodox Jews where also look ridiculous. That doesn’t make it anti Semitic against all Jews either. I would find anyone wearing such ill fitting suits and shirts looks ridiculous.
Personally I don’t find the burka ridiculous, I actually partially like the mystery and has a certain sexiness about it. However I do agree with a partial ban like many other European countries have adopted for all face covering garments.
It does amuse me that the well educated well bought up with all that history social standing and class that priveledge and money brings to the table to this day have little or no social understanding awareness or skills .
And yet the unwashed sort of love it in a reality tv way as oh it's Boris being Boris .