Sri Lanka bans burqas for 'public protection' after bomb attacks

[Gabbar Singh]

What a silly decision.

When has banning the burqa ever solved an issue like terrorism?

(CNN) — Calling burqas "a security risk and a flag of fundamentalism," Sri Lanka's president is banning the garment worn by some Muslim women.
The move follows a series of bombings on Easter Sunday that killed more than 250 people and wounded at least 500 in Sri Lankan churches and hotels.
"President Maithripala Sirisena took this decision to further support the ongoing security and help the armed forces to easily identify the identity of any wanted perpetrators," according to a press release from the president's office.
The ban goes into effect Monday

https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/04/2...-burqa/index.html?r=https://www.google.co.uk/

 

[barah_admi]

They should also ban jackets, caps and balaclavas.

 

[warcry]

their country.
their rules.
no burqa no problem.

 

[Tubs]

The only reason I think that could be logical is if burqas are being used to hide stuff underneath? But I'm not sure if that's a common tactic. They definitely should ban all face-coverings if they want identification to be easier.

 

[CricketDon]

Good move from Sri Lanka. The burqa has no place in modern day. It’s a symbol of oppression and has no place in Islam. It comes from Saudis culture.

Don’t know why so many people are getting offended when you can’t wear a burka in the holy site of mecca. For the exact same reasons Sri Lanka has banned it.

 

[Suleiman]

Good move from Sri Lanka. The burqa has no place in modern day. It’s a symbol of oppression and has no place in Islam. It comes from Saudis culture.

Don’t know why so many people are getting offended when you can’t wear a burka in the holy site of mecca. For the exact same reasons Sri Lanka has banned it.

Pretty much this.

Islam talks about the hijab, not the burqa.

 

[Josh]

What a silly decision.

When has banning the burqa ever solved an issue like terrorism?



https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/04/2...-burqa/index.html?r=https://www.google.co.uk/

It doesn't solve problem but it can at least help identify people by their face. It doesn't solve terrorism of course, but the core issue is identification here I guess ; to keep a vigil in public spaces.

 

[Swashbuckler]

This is a temporary measure, emergency has been declared and anti-terror combing ops are going on. Some of the attackers that day were women, the terror module has many women as per whatever news we have been fed. Some Islamic authority in Sri Lanka recommended ban of face veil to the President so that identification of the suspects isn't hindered.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sri Lanka PM office says PM has advised Justice Minister to draft laws to stop Burka (face cover) Muslim women dress after discussing it with main Islamic cleric association ACJU who have already submitted a resolution to ban it.</p>— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzzamAmeen/status/1122483341431697408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Sachin136]

What a silly decision.

When has banning the burqa ever solved an issue like terrorism?

Very strange statement. Since terrorism hasn't been solved by anyone yet, by default no action has "ever solved an issue like terrorism". Does that mean we should take no measures to try and prevent it?

 

[PakLFC]

I have never liked the niqab or burkha at all as it only raises suspicion. Sri Lanka has every right to ban it seeing the tragedy that took place some days back. You never know who or what is under that black veil.

 

[pillionrider]

Islam talks about the hijab, not the burqa.

Very interesting. Not sure many people are aware of this.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

What a silly decision.

When has banning the burqa ever solved an issue like terrorism?



https://edition-m.cnn.com/2019/04/2...-burqa/index.html?r=https://www.google.co.uk/

Nothing silly about it.

 

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka has banned face coverings in public, following a spate of suicide attacks on Easter Sunday that killed at least 250 people and injured hundreds.

President Maithruipala Sisirsena said he was using an emergency law to impose the restriction from Monday.

Any face garment which "hinders identification" will be banned to ensure national security, his office said.

The niqab and burka - worn by Muslim women - were not specifically named.

The move is perceived as targeting the garments, however.

Sri Lanka remains on high alert eight days after Islamist attacks that hit churches and hotels.

Dozens of suspects have been arrested, but local officials warned that more militants remained at large.

How many people are affected?
Sri Lanka has a sizeable and centuries-old Muslim population - out of 21 million, just under 10% are Muslim.

Only a small number of women are thought to wear the face-covering niqab, or the burka - a one-piece veil that covers the face and body.

Last week a Sri Lankan MP had proposed a ban on women wearing the burqa, saying it should be outlawed on security grounds.

According to news outlet India Today, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, an organisation of Muslim clerics in Sri Lanka, had also asked women to avoid wearing face coverings.

Children of the Easter Sunday carnage
What led to carnage?
Who are the victims of the Sri Lanka attacks?
Over the weekend thousands of Sri Lankan troops stood guard on the streets, protecting churches and mosques.

Sunday church services were cancelled across the country as a precaution, but worshippers in the capital gathered to pray outside St Anthony's Shrine, which was badly damaged in the attacks.

The number of people arrested in connection with the bloodshed rose to 150. Sri Lankan authorities are also hunting for around 140 followers of the jihadist group Islamic State, which has said it was involved in the bombings, but has not given details.

On Friday, the father and two brothers of the alleged organiser of the attacks, Zahran Hashim, were killed in an operation by security forces.

Hashim, who blew himself up at a hotel in Colombo, founded an Islamist group, the NTJ, which authorities have said was behind the attacks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48088834

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The SL govt has got to be seen doing something. They were caught napping by the terrorist attacks and have come under heavy criticism. This will be as much about allaying the non-Muslim majority population as preventing terror.

Also they might reason that they type of fanatic that would bomb churches will probably be among those who wear burqas. Could just be a way of making life uncomfortable for the Islamic fundamentalists.

 

[CricVet]

Agree. It should be completely banned everywhere these days.

 

[Realromeo]

Sri Lankans Muslims are Sufis, Sufis don't wear burqa. Probably shouldn't act as a big deal.

 

[troodon]

The attackers were not wearing Burqas. They just were going around with backpacks.

 

[The_Odd_One]

About time this foolish practice of covering yourself ends.

 

[KingKhanWC]

The SL govt has got to be seen doing something. They were caught napping by the terrorist attacks and have come under heavy criticism. This will be as much about allaying the non-Muslim majority population as preventing terror.

Also they might reason that they type of fanatic that would bomb churches will probably be among those who wear burqas. Could just be a way of making life uncomfortable for the Islamic fundamentalists.

Pretty much this. Lankan government should actually resign due to the level of incompetence.

Banning the face covering will make no difference to security.

 

[MMHS]

If I were a prominent Muslim leader, I would have started a campaign to ban Burkha by the Muslim community itself first. Burkha is a symbol associated with Muslims, but it can be bought & used by anyone. Some terrorist can use it for their purpose and the entire blame goes to Muslims!!!! And, it's true that the disguise of a pious Muslim lady in a dark, loose Burkha can be the best camouflage for any such sabotage. SRL is hurt and have lost over 200 of it's innocent people and like 100+ foreigner - it's expected that they'll do something as a counter measures to prevent such terrorism in future. Also, we should remember that, a good part of SRL's economy is dependent on tourism - unless Govt. adopts drastic and strict measures, their economy might suffer in future.

I am not an Islamic scholar, but I am not sure if hiding face is mandatory. As far I know (& my wife follows that strictly - she does lots of studies on these), one needs to veil hair, ear, shoulders (& rest of the body), but you can expose your face, legs from ankle and hands from wrist. Also, it's not mandatory to cover whole body with a robe like black cloth piece, rather the spirit is that your dress attire should be as such that it doesn't expose your skin (apart from the aforementioned parts) and must not revile your body curves. And, there are suggestions not to use colors/designs that are attention seeking. The idea of Burkha comes from there, dark black cloth without any design and it covers the whole body uniformly - but one can achieve as such without being a ninja (that is what is called here