Burka debate has been missing the point

Sir, – The debate over burkas and niqabs started by Boris Johnson’s recent comments is entirely missing the point.

What troubles most British people about these forms of dress is that the wearer is proclaiming their endorsement of the moral values and way of life of Saudi Arabia and Iran, and thereby implicitly their support for Britain being run in a similar fashion.

It is hard to imagine a country more oppressive of women than polygamous Saudi Arabia, where they are still denied full legal capacity and only now in 2018 are finally being allowed to drive.

Similarly, these countries are notorious for the persecution of sexual minorities. While Saudi Arabia simply executes gay men, in many cases Iran coerces them in to gender reassignment surgery.

Nor are Islamist countries and movements well-known for their tolerance of religious and ethnic minorities.

In Pakistan owing to the pressure of Islamist parties, the notorious blasphemy laws, which carry the death penalty, are used to persecute Christians.

Most British people are broad-minded and tolerant.

We see the Sikh in his turban or the Hindu woman wearing her sari on a smart occasion as adding a little sparkle to the nation.

However, we are quite unwilling to be taken for fools by the small malevolent Islamist minority among British Muslims.

Otto Inglis. 6 Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh.

Burka wearers implicitly endorse oppressive values, says Otto Inglis.