French Muslim minister says ban the burqa

Interesting report on the BBC News website today.

Fadela Amara, Minister of Urban Regeneration in the French government, says she would be in favour of a ban on wearing the burqa -- the head covering worn by many Muslim women -- in public.

Mme Amara, who identifies herself as a moderate Muslim, says that the burqa is a sign of "the oppression of women". Taking a stand against it, she asserts, is a way to fight the "grangrene, the cancer of radical Islam...a religion that enslaves women and disputes the principle of equality between men and women."

Walt believes we could do with some "urban regeneration" in North America too. But if, in the name of equal rights, we proscribe the right of religious women (or men) to wear clothing which symbolizes or is required by their faith, should this not apply to everyone?