Burquas in Spain

Spain is considering a ban on burquas in government buildings, maintaining that the clothing is demeaning to women. As I understand it, Islamic women decide to wear burquas as part of a commitment to modesty. It is hard to see why this would be “demeaning” to women. Even if it were demeaning, it is almost as hard to see why government would be warranted to intervene in these clothing choices, let alone why government would combat such demeaning clothing only in government buildings.  Perhaps the idea is that men force women to wear this clothing. Apart from the fantastic empirical assumptions (men think the clothing appropriate, but women do not), relieving women from involuntary choices only in government buildings has little to recommend it. In fact, the claim of protecting women is insulting.

The point of this proposed legislation is to assault human dignity, not to protect it. It is Spain’s attempt to show that it too can stigmatize minorities.

cross-posted at religiousleftlaw.com