Burka Essay Essay Example

Burka Essay Essay Example Burka Essay Essay Burka Essay Essay The Burka: Controversies over women all around the World In present society there seems to be more and more controversies with Muslim women wearing the burka. The burka is a traditional piece of clothing used by women of Islamic religion. This piece of clothing is a type of veil attached to the head and covers the face and entire body, which the eyes uncovered, so women can see through it (Cody Daily, 2010). In this way, it is known that the burka has become a symbol of terrorism or a form of discrimination of women in the society, causing even more controversies. In the other hand, this piece of clothing erases the Muslim women’s identity and it is a symbol of faith and traditionally conservative Afghan society (Asamblea General Plenaria del Consejo de Estado frances, 2009). So now, although many countries consider that the use of the burka has negative effects on society and women, the burka has a positive effect if it is seen as a symbol of tradition and respect for the right to free development of personality. First of all, the burka represents an important symbol of tradition in the Afghan society. The use of the burka seen as something traditional between the Muslim women is characterized because this use represents a behavior of cultural and religious origins and its prohibition cannot be protected by the secularism notion (Motilla, 2009). Secularism notion means the view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs and a religious skepticism. Despite this, there are several European countries that are trying to forbid the use of the burka in public places because they argue that these religious expressions involve problems of public order and the safety of people; so these cultural minorities must leave their religious identities to adopt the common tradition in other countries (Cody Daily, 2010). It is important to mention that the use of veils should not be a prohibition, but a decision that women can freely make to defend their religion and their beliefs, and it is true there are rules in every country but the government should not interfere in the way in which each person chooses their clothing or their beliefs. For these reasons, Muslim women can use their veils in other countries while it is used without damage to others and only through the decision to follow their beliefs. For example, countries like France and Belgium have established that women who use the burka in public should be arrested, because they represent a danger o society, while the United States have chosen to respect the religious beliefs (Munoz, 2003). Moreover, the right to free development of personality is a right of each person of every culture in a country and it includes the way Muslim women live. The burka prohibition would affect several rights and freedoms principles like: individual freedom, p ersonal liberty, freedom of speech and expression of opinions, especially religious; thus women can use this piece of clothing when they have attributed a meaning that produces wellness, belonging and attachment to their identity (Motilla, 2009). In the other hand, several countries argue that the use of the burka do not respect the principle of gender equality, also that its wearing is an element that shows the lack of integration of women and it affects their right to identity as a person (Cody Daily, 2010). However, as people know, every person has the right to the free development of personality, so women will be free to use their veil whenever they want, while they feel comfortable and in that way the can freely express their decision, personality and beliefs. For example, in Spain the state have a social perception that is trying to demonstrate through â€Å"The wilderness that is the Islam with womenâ€Å" that there is a conflict between modernity and the world of the Islam; however, there is a Muslim Womens Network in Spain that seeks to respect the rights of women and their personal liberty (Red de Mujeres Musulmanas en Espana, 2010). In conclusion, tradition and the right to free development of personality represent enough reasons to do not develop the prohibition of the use of veils in several countries. The first one represents the attachment and belief in their religion of all Muslim women, so they can use the burka to express freely their religious identities as long as there is not an abuse that affects other people in the society. In the second place, every person in each culture has de right to free development of personality, so if women want to use this veil is because they have attributed a meaning that produce in them a feeling of wellness, belonging and identity and they are free to do that as long as it does not affect others. In this way, although all over the world the burka has become a subject of controversy and discussion, I think it is not justified the prohibition of the use of this veil between the Muslim women because it is common that they use this piece of clothing because they are respecting their beliefs and values taught by the culture that gave them a particular identity all over the world.