Congratulations to Virginia Haussegger for her call to arms to have the burka and the niqab banned in Australia (''Ban un-Australian burka'', Forum, June 27, p16). The role of the face in all human interaction is of primary importance (it is the first ''other'' object recognised by all human infants) and this is enshrined in our daily language. We speak of losing face, putting on a brave face, hiding one's face, being ashamed to show one's face, etc.
People who are faceless have no individual identity and few if any rights.
Imprisonment of women behind this particular type of clothing robs them of their individuality they do not exist for all practical purposes in society and have no opinions apart from those permitted by their male ''protectors''. This is absolutely outrageous and I, like Haussegger, am appalled that it is present, here and now and in our own country.
Some years ago I sat in the garden of a small cafe and watched what I think was a female try to eat a hamburger by breaking off little bits and lifting them up beneath the black cloth over her face. Her male companion tucked heartily into his hamburger, as we were doing. I always felt guilty that I didn't go over and register my disquiet about the way her clothing was constraining her ability to enjoy her food. Since then I have become more forceful. If I see a female wearing this attire I go over to her and very politely tell her that I find her clothing extremely offensive.
I think we should all do this. And yes, let us take up arms and call on our parliamentary representatives to ban the burka at least in public. They can wear it at home if they must.
Jo Mazengarb, Bonython
I wonder if Virginia Haussegger (''Ban un-Australian burka'', Forum, June 27, p16) would dare to demand that religious Jewish women be banned from wearing a headscarf, which they are forced to wear when they marry to hide their hair, or from wearing long skirts and long sleeves that hide their knees and elbows. According to the Halacha (Jewish law), women's hair and body parts can cause lustful thoughts in men and might lead them to sin. Discrimination against women and children exists in many religions and religious sects, but Haussegger picks on the one that is most visible. If Haussegger wants to ban the burka (which is a cultural rather than religious form of dress) because it discriminates against women, then all religions that discriminate against women or anyone else, and I can think of a few, should also be banned in Australia. Picking on Muslims is really easy and quite permissible these days.
There is nothing that Australia can or should learn from Nicolas Sarkozy.
Avigail Abarbanel, Lyneham
Surely we all agree with Virginia Haussegger's call to have the burka banned in Australia (''Ban un-Australian burka'', Forum, June 27, p16). Of course, there are reasons other than the subjugation of women. Where security is an issue, such as banks and hospitals, motorcycle helmets are often banned, yet not burkas.
Apart from young children being terrified of this ridiculous un-Australian garb, imagine a teacher trying to gauge the understanding and rapport of his students. A friend recently confided about how disconcerting and threatening it felt to have a Muslim woman wearing the full burka in a U3A class.
As a teacher, I find it unacceptable to see Muslim girls attired in restrictive garments, thus preventing them from participating in sport, particularly athletics and swimming.
The girls wearing them are getting younger and younger, and with our heavy emphasis on political correctness and not wishing to offend, it wouldn't surprise me if teenagers will soon be wearing the full burkas in the classroom.
Meanwhile, many of their male high school counterparts wear what they like, and treat the female teachers with the same disrespect they bestow on other women in their community.
Patricia Beaton, Weston
Burka and niqab wearers (''Ban un-Australian burka'', Forum, June 27, p16) are not only committing a social aberration in Australia, among other countries, but are also endangering their health worldwide by limiting vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Prolonged deficiency of vitamin D results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. If the sensible recommendation to instead wear clothes that allow more skin exposure to the sun cannot be immediately implemented, the helpless victims of this medieval custom should ensure that: they include dietary sources of vitamin D and/or take a vitamin D supplement, together with an adequate intake of calcium as part of a balanced nutrition, as directed by their health-care professional.
Jorge Gapella, Kaleen
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