Madam, – The wearing of the niqab cannot be justified on the basis of multiculturalism, as the Irish Council of Imams states (Home News, February 6th), any more than we can, in a civilised society, accept female circumcision, witchcraft, multiple wives, child sacrifice or child labour.
Using tenuous, open-to-interpretation teachings from the Koran, the wearing of the niqab has been imposed on women. The penalty for not wearing it has often been extreme violence and cruelty. Out of empathy and support for the many victims of this violence we should not accept this practice in Ireland or any civilised country.
The Irish Council of Imams also states we should allow the wearing of the niqab on the basis of encouraging integration. However, in conversation with someone wearing the niqab it is not possible to read and interpret facial expressions and so an unequal communication takes place. What is integrationist about that? – Yours, etc,