Boris and the Burkha.

Much is being made of Boris Johnson's interview in the Telepgraph about Burkhas. Actually more accurately the Niqab, the face veil.

Aparrently his references to letterboxes and bank robbers has offended some people, such that there are no calls to remove the whip from him.

But there you go, the professionally offended are at it again. Who gives a toss if you are "offended"? I don't. At work we call each other wanker, prick and occasionally use the "C" word too. I could well be offended by this if I took the remark out of context.

In the context of the Boris interview he is right, although I suggest the short-hand form of the interview in the paper didn't put the words well.

But to avoid being robbed, banks require that we remove headgear such as crash helmets, balaclavas and the like. That's not anti-muslim, that's anti-someone-wanting-to-rob-the-bank. It's common sense that everyone entering the bank can be identified.

The same goes for petrol stations: people should remove headgear so they can be identified on CCTV so they can be found if they run off without paying, or if they try and rob the place. There's no malice or "Islamophobia" in the request.

The same goes when confirming the identity of someone using photo ID.  Whether it's a driving licence, bus pass or whatever, the person providing the ID should be prepared to (as part of the process of using that ID) to show their face to confirm they are the person on that photo ID.

I see it this way: if you want the freedom to wear the face veil, to identify with your religious beliefs, part of the contract you have with the state to allow you that freedom is that occasionally someone in authority will request that you show your face to prove your identity, especially when using photographic ID. You take the common sense line and each party meets half way.

If you refuse to show your face to validate the photo ID, then you are in breach of contract and the ID is invalid. In the case of a bus pass you'd be required to pay full fare, in the case of a driving licence you would not be allowed to drive the car. In the case of the bank or the petrol station they have the right not to serve you.

It's not Islamophobic, it is common sense. And as the rules apply to everyone, they are not discriminatory.

Now if people want to breach that contract with the state and ID providers by not proving their identity by removing the veil, then they do so under the full knowledge of those conditions.

The problem is that veil wearers do so to make a political point. It is not religious. They are saying essentially that they reject the rules of our country and prefer to live under Sharia. They are sticking two fingers up to the rules that govern our country and saying they do not wish to live under our laws.

If we did the same in a Muslim country then quite rightly we would feel the full force of their laws. But normally we show due respect for the rules that apply and cover up, and when it is required, women wear the veil.

Now under those circumstances, if it does become a major issue which it does seem to be these days, I'm in favour of a law coming into force that forces people to show their faces when required to validate the requirements of their ID.

For instance when asked to validate a bus pass or when driving a car.

Driving a car without a face covering should be a requirement in law to be able to identify the driver at all times. Otherwise anyone could be driving and it would be easy to pervert the course of justice.
Just how you identify a speeding driver in a photograph if they are wearing the veil escapes me. But then how safe is it driving when veiled? I'd suggest that the risk of the head covering obscuring the driver's view is pretty high. Ban the veil when driving then.


As for the letterbox comment, well it's a bit crass but it's what everyone thinks. Whether a public figure should say such a thing is up for debate, but certainly shouldn't be a reson for deselection, removal of the whip, or an apology.

I defy a Muslim not to have called a scantily-clad Western girl a slut or a whore or in any other way impune her morals. Even though Bikinis and other revealling clothes are acceptable wear in the west.

UPDATED TO ADD:

Be very wary of anyone wanting to ban teh Niqab outright, for that way lies the banning of ALL face coverings in public. That would be a very hard law to write in order to get round masks used at Halloween, full face crash helmets, V for ventetta masks, that sort of thing.

Better to compel the wearer to reveal themselves upon a reasonable and valid request.