I am saying that not all headcoverings are a symbol of oppression of women and I think I and other posters have demonstrated that adequately. Some headscarves are just a regional or national dress style.

Burkhas and the like might well be a symbol of the oppression of women but not all headcoverings are burkhas.

Yes - good post. I get the feeling that some people are objecting to something that just isn't sinister in any way.

Incidentally even if these girls were objecting to wearing a headcovering (is there any suggestion that they are?) it's not that much different to we boys not being too happy having to wear our school caps everywhere with threat of detention if we didn't.

Was your school cap linked to puberty. Most muslims say that when a girl reaches puberty she cannot show her hair. How many muslim women have you spoken to...i bet not many, if any for you male appeasers cos it doesn't happen. Well I have, was part of my job at one time, much more reliable barometer than wikky or google and pathetic excuses about a school cap.

Once organised a seminar in Dewsbury for the Asian community to tap into EU funds. Told them the women had to come too as a lot of funded projects were for them. grudgingly the great and the good of the Mosque agreed. One minute before the event was due to start the women were ushered in like sheep and segregated and herded off again in the same way at the end.

Like Bipat I would like to know how you know what MOST Muslims say, you must have spoken to an awful lot of them to know that, especially seeing as you value that method of research over others.

And TBH if that happens to be the custom amongst Muslims does that actually make it oppressive? Customary dress amongst non-Muslim girls and women change with age so I don't see that as particularly sinister.

Re: your last paragraph - quite appalling. There have been other well publicised instances of this kind of discrimination in the UK recently - often, sadly, in universities. I've no time for it.

I see another Muslim Priest has finally be captured, good. Filth like this and their filthy religion should be hunted down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-26286637

Might be interesting to read at least one Muslim woman's view on the subject.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-no...rd-niqab-burka

yeah lets not leave out the Guardian, the bible of every sandal wearing liberal....keep googling

Yes - very interesting and I've read similar stories elsewhere too.

Not the only point of view of course but it rather belies the 'all headcovering is oppression' assertion doesn't it?

Of course it does to the very gullible. Someone who worked for me, quite outspoken, (she left her Husband after he went back to Pakistan and married again) was threatened with having her legs broken for dressing Western style......you wouldn't read it in the Groaniad though, it was the real world not something cobbled together by an islington luvvie with a chequebook!

Anyway..............keep googling. I'm off..play nice

Yes it is interesting, and so is Muslim womans view of coverings, which shows a different view to your example.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/archi...nt-wear-hijab/

We can go on forever and a day googling examples of for and against, you won´t change your opinion and I won´t change mine.

I posted this example because all the Muslims I happen to know are of Indian origin and in your great extensive knowledge you will already be aware that they are often (not always) lets not generalise, less strict in their religious observance than those of Pakistani origin for example.

So I thought the link might be interesting.

Incidently most of us wear sandals when in India.

By the way what is wrong with being liberal?? The school which started this discussion is quite liberal in regards to its teaching.

I think actually we are agreed!
I have just been trying to say that all Muslims whether men or women are not the same in their interpretation or observance of their religion.
Some are strict others are not. Some are extreme fanatics most are not.
But on this thread some posters see only the most negative practices as reality.

I see it a bit different to you, I see it as some being happy in their religion and others being forced against their will to live a life they would not choose for themselves.

So by definition there are a lot of 'dysfunctional families' for want of a better word.

shouldn't the feeling of those who are not happy, be considered priority?

As Bipat has said, not all muslims object to headcovering, only some.

And, btw, I for one am always prepared to change my opinion in the light of new evidence, it's an open mindedness thing...

I am not arguing with that, I know some Muslims don't object to coverings.

The more extreme Muslims have been known to force their women to cover up, whereas the less extreme don't impose the none wearing of coverings on their women. In my view a big difference.

Bye and happy posting. I can't be bothered going round and round.