New member here. I have yet to go through the entire thread but i'd like to add this that i find it very ironic and amazing at the same time that people tend to defend the face veil or Burqa by using "Islam".
-Nothing in Islam commands women to cover their faces etc, infact the obligatory prayer (Namaz) and the pilgrimage (Hajj or Umrah) isn't even accepted if the woman has her face covered. If people are going to call it Islamic, bring proof from the Scripture (Quran and Hadith) itself and not what your local mullah told you.
-Another interesting way people defend the Burqa or face veil is saying "modesty", PLEASE! hiding your identity isn't modesty, its extremism. Trust me no man cares about your body or face. If they have to fantasize they'll do it with or without "modesty".
-Also bashing the western countries saying that "If they are going to talk about freedom to choose and then ban Burqa or niqaab, its hypocrisy". NO! its not hypocrisy at all, you know why? Because one is a matter of personal feelings and other is security. You don't see a woman or anyone hiding bombs in their bikinis, yet they do in Burqas. Bikinis don't hide your identity, burqas and face veil do. And whenever a woman wears one and goes out in public, its her choice. Burqa? not so much. Women are killed over not covering faces or wearing burqas. Women are killed over wanting to wear whatever they want.
What we need is a burqa ban or even willingly drop the burqa to stand with those being oppressed with it.