[Livia]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

It's not for us to demand it though I think, I think the women who actually wear them are the ones who have to fight for that, if that's what they want. Personally I can't even begin to understand how they would want to wear those things and I think it's down to brain washing and sexism within their culture but they still need to realize that for themselves and fight for change themselves, you can't force people to think how you do

We're talking about a culture where in some quarters, women are denied education and medical treatment. I'm not sure a fight over wearing the burka is one they'd have the appetite for. I know there are some women in the UK and other liberal places, who say it's their right to wear the burka. But equally, there are many women in the world who have this oppressive garment forced on them. If women want to wear things that adhere to their religion, headscarves for instance, then that's up to them. But to have to wear something that covers everything but your eyes - and some burkas have a lace panel so that you can't see their eyes either - simply because you're a women sounds ridiculous to me.