Is The Veil Against Women's Human Rights?

Is The Veil Against Women's Human Rights?


The question brings up many human rights issues including: women’s, minority and cultural rights. However, the main issue is religious tolerance/freedom so this essay will primarily focus on this. For many people religious symbols like the veil and cross are a statement of religious adherence. Both have raised some controversy in the UK in recent months. Although the veil is forced upon some women around the world, most who wear it in the UK choose to. Nonetheless, Jack Straw has argued the veil physically separates women from people outside their own community. The UK has an international reputation for tolerance built on a policy of supporting and celebrating cultural and religious difference1. However, some have used the veil debate as a pretext for voicing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments. While others believe that all Muslim men want is to oppress women, or that those women and girls who choose to veil do not understand women’s rights. Moreover, there is a perceived threat of religious fundamentalism in the UK, particularly Islamic fundamentalism2, likely raised by the war on terrorism and the July 7 bombings in London3. The veil may be seen as a part of fundamentalist Islam. Walter suggests the increasing number of new laws, proposed laws, political battles, and controversies focused on the religious dress of Muslim women is not a coincidence but a direct reflection of the Western World’s anxiety about Islam and the growing, visible presence of Muslims in their society4. Traditionally minority groups were expected to assimilate into majority culture. This assimilationist expectation is now considered oppressive and a violation of basic human rights5. It seems secular States like the UK seek to protect society from religious influences, and confine religion to the private sphere6.

Various UN instruments contain a host of relevant obligations and commitments for governments, the latter being more elaborate. Commitments are, however, only...

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