October 23, 200916 yr Muslim student, 18, banned from college because she refuses to remove her burka By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 4:41 PM on 23rd October 2009 Comments (0) Add to My Stories Burka: Shawana Bilqes refused to take off a cover-all Islamic robes like above A burka-wearing student has been banned from enrolling at a college after staff claimed the Muslim garment was a barrier to ‘safety and communication’. Shawana Bilqes, 18, was forced to abandon her learning plans after she refused to remove the head-to-toe gown which reveals only her eyes. She had been asked to show her face as a check to avoid identity fraud in case she was posing as someone else. But when she explained she could not due to her religious belief she was forced off her Access course for an HE Diploma at Burnley College, Lancashire. Today Miss Bilqes said: ‘It is my choice to wear the veil. ‘I live around the corner from the college in an area where there are so many practising Muslims. ‘I tried to compromise but they wouldn’t. The college sent me a latter to say I could continue with my course if I stopped wearing the veil. ‘We are in the 21st century and we get people from all walks of life. I’m in the police cadets as well and yet it’s not a problem wearing the veil there.’ Miss Bilqes was approached by a member of staff as she arrived at the college at the start of term to book in on her first day of study. Now the school leaver is faced with looking elsewhere to gain her qualifications. Burnley College is in a new £81million development that they describe as ‘the most ambitious development of its kind in the country’. It boasts 7,500 sixth form students and a 100 per cent pass rate for the fourth year running. Today College principle John Smith hit back at Miss Bilqes’s claims by saying all students and staff wear photo IDs for security - so common sense said they must see her face. Mr Smith said: ‘We do require all students of Burnley College to have their faces visible when at the college. ‘There are three reasons for this requirement. We are determined to maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning in Burnley College. ‘To do this effectively requires unimpeded communication from the teacher to all students, from the students to the teacher and between student and student. ‘It is not possible to maintain this essential full communication of the face of any student is not fully visible. ‘We are committed also to maintain a fully inclusive college where students from all backgrounds integrate to the fullest possible extent. ‘This is essential to maintain a healthy college community. The basis of this inclusive and integrated community, where all play their part, is full communication. ‘We are also determined to provide a safe environment for all our students. ‘To do so, we have taken a range of measures - central to this is that all members of the college community should be identifiable at all times when in the college. ‘To this end we require students and staff to wear a security card which displays their photograph. ‘Where individuals are able to comply with these reasonable requirements, which apply to all students equally, we would be very pleased to admit them to Burnley College. ‘Where individuals decline to comply, then I am afraid that we cannot accommodate them.’ The role of the burka in Europe was highlighted in 2006 by Labour MP Jack Straw when the now Justice Secretary hit out at the rise of the garment in his Blackburn constituency - just 11 miles from Burnley. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke out in June against the robe, claiming it reduced women to servitude and undermined their dignity. He gave his backing to the establishment of a parliamentary commission to look at whether to ban the wearing of them in public. In 2004, France banned the Islamic headscarves in its state schools. Mr Sarkozy said: ‘We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. ‘That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity. ‘The burka is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222511/Muslim-student-18-banned-college-refuses-remove-burka.html#ixzz0UmDb1vKI
October 23, 200916 yr Why do people make such a big deal of this crap? It's the Jesus-syndrome. These people are looking for attention, and the way they get it is by pretending they're oh-so-righteous victims of societal discrimination. Just ignore religion and it'll go away.
October 23, 200916 yr Author Why do people make such a big deal of this crap? It's the Jesus-syndrome. These people are looking for attention, and the way they get it is by pretending they're oh-so-righteous victims of societal discrimination. Just ignore religion and it'll go away. This is only about following rules, nothing more. If you aren't prepared to obey the rules which are in place for good reason, then you should be prepared for the consequences.;)
October 23, 200916 yr If I want to dress like Ronald McDonald when I go to class, then let me. She has just has a bad case of "balloon boy". It's precisely the act of setting up silly rules that allows people to end up feeling like martyrs. Think of it as a form of exhibitionism.
October 23, 200916 yr Author If I want to dress like Ronald McDonald when I go to class, then let me. If it doesn't breach the rules of the institution you're attending, that shouldn't be a problem. Give it a try and report back!:rolleyes:
October 23, 200916 yr well in my high school (8 years ago or so), where muslim guys who had a problem (they didn't got banned or anything). my high school didn't allow any cap, hat, or thing that may cover your head/hair, and some them used to wear some stuff (not even muslim related).
October 23, 200916 yr Author well in my high school (8 years ago or so), where muslim guys who had a problem (they didn't got banned or anything). my high school didn't allow any cap, hat, or thing that may cover your head/hair, and some them used to wear some stuff (not even muslim related). Well it was either a rule or it wasn't. If it was, they should have been ordered to remove them.;)
October 23, 200916 yr they took it off while in class and put it on during the breaks, anyways those are good guys. :D but as i've said, they didn't got punished or anything (as far as i know), and they were not the only ones who did that, not-muslim guys wore caps and so on...
October 23, 200916 yr Author they took it off while in class and put it on during the breaks, anyways those are good guys. :D but as i've said, they didn't got punished or anything (as far as i know), and they were not the only ones who did that, not-muslim guys wore caps and so on... Well the rules should have been for everyone, otherwise it wasn't fair.;)
October 23, 200916 yr Well the rules should have been for everyone, otherwise it wasn't fair.;) rules are there, but not always are followed and not always punished. there are lots of wasted paper that come from the courts everyday and those don't appear in the newspaper... lots of new laws that nobody care to follow or not as was smoking ban here, the law was written in 1997, when was it "applied" by force, nearly in the end of 2007 or so. :dozey: for 10 years! it was just wasted paper. and back on the said case by me, none those guys (muslim or not) got punished for not obeying the rules.
October 23, 200916 yr shouldn't there have been some sort of Compromise on both parts in this situation. In our school they can be strict with uniform, but they would respect religion. :thinking: well, they're not that strict with uniform, but still.
October 23, 200916 yr Author shouldn't there have been some sort of Compromise on both parts in this situation. A compromise would have been her not covering her face so she could be identified.;)
October 23, 200916 yr Author the big problem here is that burkas with covered faces ISN't Islam. That's actually irrelevant, but that was Sarkozy's point (as mentioned in the article).;) What it might or might not represent has nothing to do with it. If someone turned up wearing a Darth Vader mask the same rule would apply.;)
October 23, 200916 yr i know that Mark, don't worry, i'm not saying they're being racist or something, it's just that burka with covered face that annoys. after all England isn't a muslim country, so i understand that. To tell you in Tunisia ( a muslim country) they're banning covered haired in Unies and Highschool...:freak: that's a shame. off topic sorry.
October 23, 200916 yr Author i know that Mark, don't worry, i'm not saying they're being racist or something, it's just that burka with covered face that annoys. You mean because it's totally unnecessary? after all England isn't a muslim country, so i understand that. To tell you in Tunisia ( a muslim country) they're banning covered haired in Unies and Highschool...:freak: that's a shame. off topic sorry. I don't see why covered hair should be a problem, as you can see the person's face, which is all that matters.;)
October 23, 200916 yr You mean because it's totally unnecessary? yes! I don't see why covered hair should be a problem, as you can see the person's face, which is all that matters.;) yes, that's totally stupid. i can't understand why a muslim country has to ban it, it's one of the most important thing with muslims girls ( personally my hair aren't covered but well...) i mean it's not even banned in England and it's banned in Tunisia :laugh3: hilarious!!!
October 23, 200916 yr Author yes! yes, that's totally stupid. i can't understand why a muslim country has to ban it, it's one of the most important thing with muslims girls ( personally my hair aren't covered but well...) i mean it's not even banned in England and it's banned in Tunisia :laugh3: hilarious!!! Ridiculous, more like.:dozey: Does that mean Sikhs aren't allowed to wear their turbans either?:stunned:
October 23, 200916 yr Actually this is not what exactly İslam's says i âm Muslim but i âm against to burka or türban these are politics
October 23, 200916 yr Author Actually this is not what exactly İslam's says i âm Muslim but i âm against to burka or türban these are politics Turbans are only hair coverings, so they shouldn't pose any more of a problem than headscarves.;) Only face coverings should be forbidden, for obvious reasons.;)
October 23, 200916 yr This is a Big political problem we are not against to headcover things but türban is a symbol also burka too as i said just politics
October 23, 200916 yr Author This is a Big political problem we are not against to headcover things but türban is a symbol also burka too as i said just politics Well in that case it would mean headscarves would have to be banned too.:confused:
October 23, 200916 yr Author hahah, that's another thing. i have no idea:P So are headscarves still permitted in French schools, or not?:confused:
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