The burqa is about control and subjugation of women. Not religion

THE burqa is seen as a method of dehumanisation by men over women under the shonky guise of religion. Not to mention it’s a security risk, writes Peta Credlin.

One Nations Leader Senator Pauline Hanson in a black burqa in her office. (Pic: Gary Ramage)

I’M BACK this week from a short break in Europe and watched from afar Pauline Hanson’s appearance in the Senate wearing a burqa.

The furore about the stunt might have been silenced by the events in Barcelona that moved the news cycle on, but despite the condescension of elites, the issue remains front and centre in the minds of ordinary Australians.

A Sky News ReachTEL poll released on Thursday showed that 57 per cent of Australians want the burqa banned with 19 per cent opposed. This shouldn’t surprise anyone in the parliament — Coalition, Labor or Green — because similar outright bans, or restrictions in places like schools or government buildings, have already been imposed by other governments in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Chad, Austria, Cameroon and many others.

As with many other issues of public debate in this country at the moment, it is hard to have a sensible conversation about the veiling of women in Australia without being accused of cultural insensitivity, Islamophobia or worse, racism.

Which is precisely the Left’s game plan of course. Despite arguing that gender-stereotypical toys (trucks and Barbie dolls let’s say) should be removed from childcare centres lest boys grow into men that disrespect women, they’re silent on a garb that confines women to a subhuman existence when outside the home.

Imagine navigating life beyond your front door through a cover of black fabric. Simple human interactions with your fellow Australians are denied to you: no smile as you buy items from the shop or take a seat next to someone on public transport.

One Nations Leader Senator Pauline Hanson called for a plebiscite on banning the burqa. (Pic: Gary Ramage)

Instead you’re likely to be regarded with concern or even fear. This isn’t how women should live in a country like ours. Where are the feminists who have championed the rights of women now? Their silence is deafening and their political agenda is laid bare. What is it about Islam that cuts the tongue out of the mouth of the Left? What is it about Islam that makes it a religion that’s immune from any critical comment when faith of almost every other origin — Christianity and Judaism in particular — is open slather for mockery and derision?

The burqa is about control and subjugation of women; it is not about religion.

Senior Islamic leaders have confirmed this week that the full-face veiling of women either via a burqa (no eyes visible) or the niqab (eyes seen through a narrow slit) is not a religious requirement. The Koran calls for modest clothing only so the conclusion is undeniable that full-face veiling is used by Islamic leaders here, and countries like Saudi Arabia, to control women and deny them an equal place in society.

Women in this country should stand against the burqa if we are serious about the rights and values we want expressed to our daughters. And so should men, because, so the argument goes, the burqa is necessary because men cannot control their sexual urges when they see a woman’s lips, her cheeks or smile.

Australian women and men should stand against clothing that controls and subjugates women. (Pic: AFP)

That Australian men can’t be trusted to share a public space with a woman — so we cover the woman to conceal her humanity — is about as offensive as it gets.

Don’t give me any claptrap that this is about religious freedom. We don’t give in to the religious or cultural arguments for female genital mutilation because dehumanising women crosses a line.

Shrouding women and denying them full participation in our community life crosses a line too.

Australian Muslims who do not wear the full-face veil should be its most strident opponents because it won’t be Christians like me that end up cloaked in black, but their daughters or granddaughters.

Right now, the burqa is seen as a method of dehumanisation by men over women under the shonky guise of religion and a security risk because it conceals identity. It is also the garb of choice in a number of recent terrorist related court cases where supporters of the accused wearing the burqa have refused to stand for the judge and show respect for our justice system.

Rather than condemn Hanson to win the applause of Labor and the Greens, George Brandis should have shown leadership on an issue where women are denied their rightful place in our community. You want to know why the Liberals are bleeding support?

It’s their lack of moral backbone on issues like this. Unless they grow a spine, we get Shorten.

Originally published as The burqa is about control and subjugation of women. Not religion