City reporter
London: Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has reignited the debate over Muslim women wearing the niqab and burqa, describing the face coverings as harmful to women and to wider British society. Speaking at a Spectator event during the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Timothy said he strongly opposed the garments and compared the experience of seeing a woman wearing one to seeing a person with a “ball and chain” attached. He argued that covering the face could reduce social interaction and trust within communities.
Timothy said Britain should remain an open society in which people are free to make their own choices, but argued that the impact of full-face coverings went beyond the individual wearer. He said that living in communities where people regularly cover their faces could affect social trust and engagement.
His comments come after a controversy surrounding a photograph of a Muslim woman wearing a niqab alongside her husband at a Lambeth Palace awards ceremony. Timothy and Conservative colleague Rebecca Paul subsequently questioned whether the image sent the wrong message about women’s freedom and dignity.
The Conservative Party is understood to be considering its position on face coverings. Timothy referred to restrictions introduced in several European countries, including France, while stopping short of outlining a specific Conservative policy.
The remarks have nevertheless prompted concern among some Muslim organisations and commentators, who argue that criticism of the niqab must take account of women who say they wear it voluntarily as an expression of faith.
The wider argument is therefore likely to centre on a difficult balance between individual religious freedom, women’s autonomy, social integration and public policy. Timothy’s intervention has ensured that the question of whether Britain should impose restrictions on the niqab and burqa remains firmly on the political agenda.
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