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Australia to fine or jail women who refuse to remove burqas

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Summary of story from Dawn, erectile August 19, 2011

Authorities in New South Wales, Australia, will now fine or jail motorists who refuse to remove face-covering veils when asked by police.

The changes stipulate that if motorists do not remove their head coverings, such as helmets, masks, the face-covering niqab or the full-body burqa, they could face fines of Aus$220 to $5,500 and up to a year in prison.

“People will only be required to remove a face covering for as long as it takes to identify them,” New South Wales state Premier Barry O’Farrell said.

This follows the case of a Muslim woman sentenced to six months in jail in 2010 for falsely accusing a police officer of forcibly trying to remove her burqa.

The woman was subsequently acquitted after the person making the complaint could not be identified because she was wearing a burqa.

“I have every respect for different religions and beliefs but when it comes to enforcing the law, the police should be given adequate powers to make a clear identification,” O’Farrell said in a statement.

  1. I totally support people needing to remove face coverings for identification everywhere photo ID is required. A picture on a passport and driver’s license should be mandatory. This would include using a credit card in some instances so proof that it is the right person making the purchase as many small businesses do for their own protection. With identity theft so high and crimes such as shoplifting, never mind the rioters in many modern cities that are identified on security cameras, being in public should involve being recognizable by the public.

    • Shoplifters and identity thieves do not need to hide their faces to carry out their crimes. I do tend to agree that there should be facility to identify people by their faces if the needs arises, this would have some practical difficulties though.

      Mostly I have an objection to women’s clothing being so politicised. The only similar thing I can think of with men is the kilt/plaid, and that particular controversy was over long ago.

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