[Drury18]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

You have yet to address the issue of the burqa's effect on women. Do you think it is right women are treated like possesions simply because they happen to be Muslim? Should we stand aside and watch as a religous group, that emigrated to this country by choice, continues to treat certain Canadian (or French, for the sake of this debate) women like second class citizens?

Muslim is not the only relgious group that dictates to be such a way though.

The Qu'aran has this in regards to women:

And say to the faithful women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you the faithful, in order that you are successful"

Qur'an- Sura Nur Chapter: The Light. Verse 31

That to me is no different then where in the Bible it is stated:

For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;
for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

1 Corinthians 11:7-10

There are many Western Relgions that also dictate for women to dress or wear a headcovering as well. What makes a burqa any more opressive then that? It's still religion dictating dress and practices.

And then you have the whole practice of Jewish Circumcision which can be considered genital mutilation all in the name of faith and having a pure relationship with God.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Genesis 17: 10-14

Frankly, I find all of these practices completely effed up, but I also don't understand the religious meanings behind it. So for me to say I have a stance on it, without fully understanding it would be foolish.