Cleric: Islam doesn’t call for covered faces

THE most senior Muslim cleric in Ireland has said there
is nothing in his religion that states a woman has to have her face
fully covered.

A spokeswoman for Iman Hussein Halawa made the
statement on his behalf in response to a controversial call by a former
Lord Mayor of Cork to ban the wearing in public of full burkas which
completely cover a woman’s face.

Cllr Joe O’Callaghan has put
down a motion to be discussed by members of Cork City Council next month
to ban some garments, including hoodies, which cover people’s faces,
because he said they are a risk to security.

The motion has
been criticised by the Integration Centre. It chief executive, Killian
Forde, said: "The worst part of O’Callaghan’s childish, opportunistic,
and irresponsible motion is that he equates criminal behaviour with the
wearing of the burka.

"The last thing our society needs is
public figures coming out with blatantly xenophobic rhetoric, in order
to satiate their own publicity needs. We will be lodging a complaint
with the Standards in Public Office Commission regarding this matter."


Meanwhile, Summayal Kenna, spokeswoman for Iman Halawa and the Islamic
Cultural Centre, said there was nothing in Islamic text or history
which made it obligatory to wear a full veil over the face.


"As regards attire it’s freedom of expression, but not compulsory. A
woman doesn’t have to cover her hands or face," she said.

Mark Kelly, director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said he doubted Mr O’Callaghan’s proposal was serious.


In the wake of the British riots, the Fine Gael councillor wants
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to introduce new legislation which
would allow gardaí to lawfully remove youths’ hoodies to identify them.


"Prohibiting of the niqab, burka or other facial coverings will only
be appropriate in exceptional and clearly- defined circumstances. The
essential criteria for any such restrictions on an individual’s freedom
of expression and religion are necessity and proportionality. In other
words, is it objectively justified by a legitimate aim and are the means
of achieving that aim appropriate and necessary?" Mr Kelly said.


He said any such move requires identifying an issue, if it exists;
analysing it carefully, "consulting with communities and identifying
evidence-based solutions having due regard to human rights principles".


Mr Kelly said past experience suggests that Fine Gael have adopted a
more sophisticated and nuanced stance on issues of this nature. "We
would be most surprised if the councillor’s statements represented
official Fine Gael policy," he said.

However, another FG member on Cork City Council, Cllr Joe Kavanagh said Mr O’Callaghan’s proposal did merit some thought.


He said religious beliefs had to be respected, but he couldn’t see why
people couldn’t remove hoodies or burkas in public places such as
financial institutions and shopping centres: "If you walk into a bank
with a motorcycle helmet on you’ll be asked to take it off."

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