Reader Response

Three years ago, France banned the burqa in public places. Now a woman is challenging the law before the European Court of Human Rights. DW readers wrote in with their thoughts on Facebook.

The following comments reflect the views of our readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

I oppose the usage of burqas because it is so disturbing for security. The face plays a significant role for identification. Wearing the burqa is exaggerated because even if your want to make your self unattractive to people who are not your husband (one of the reason for wearing burqa), why not just wear no make up, or make your face uglier. - Rin Nadia

If it's forced by the husband, it is detrimental to the freedom of women. If it's the decision of the woman, then it should be respected. The problem is, how many women lie - saying it was their decision. - Pedro Ury

Western culture is a culture based on facial recognition. If you hide the face, you impede on that culture. If you don't like a culture based on facial recognition, then don't live there. - Michael Ray Peterson

It is a symbol of the slavery of the mind, body and soul of woman. - Sid Pass

I am not a Muslim, but coming from India, the second largest population of Muslims, [I believe] what to wear shouldn't be dictated by the government. If public nudity is legal in some parts of the country, why is wearing clothes is illegal? Having said that, if someone forces anyone to wear something or not wear anything, that person or/organization should be punished. But should show their faces when it comes to security. - Pran AV

Stopping immigration or banning burqas is nothing but a form of communism. Every human has rights. Just because somebody has a different religion or is from other country doesn't mean that he/she should be excluded from the society. If France wants to stop this, it should leave the EU and "live in communism." - McQueen Sorina Alexandra

The Koran doesn't say women must wear burka - it talks about modesty but not to the extreme - imposing that burka on women comes from a patriarchal society that is based on male insecurity and jealousy. Please don't refer burka as [something] required by Islam - it is not. While I'm against any government rule on what to wear, I do agree that the burka only empowers men in a society. When a westerner goes to Saudi Arabia and wears a mini-skirt or bikini and challenges the Islamic-ruled country, then and only should the burka be an issue for a European court. It's very simple - if you don't like how the culture in your adopted country is, go back to the country you came from where it's not an issue. When in Rome behave like Romans. - Margit White

They can wear the hijab (the veil) and still obey Islamic rule without using burqa and everyone would be happy. - Drikvii Drakkenberg