Burqa ban ignores the real face of terrorism

Islam is “the most feminist religion”, according to Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied. She then sought advice on Facebook from extreme anti-women Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahir.

No wonder Jacqui Lambie’s populist proposal to ban the burqa resonates with the public – especially when a teen-jihadist threatens to behead a police officer at a NSW juvenile justice centre.

But Senator Lambie’s Bill, which would ban face coverings such as the burqa worn by Muslim women in public addresses the symptom and not the root of Islamist ideology.

Lambie is worried about terrorism and crime. “The community must feel safe,” she says. “Many of us fear for our lives as soon as we step out the front door.”

Except her Bill makes no mention of veils or burqas, referring only to a “full face covering” – which could, of course, also include motorbike helmets and balaclavas.

A ban on the veil would only come into effect when the terror threat level reaches ‘probable’ – which is where the National Terrorism Threat level sits at the moment.

Soaring crime rates, weakening security, and mounting community fears are driving Lambie’s push.

Terror suspects are getting younger. Authorities are taking the matter of youth radicalisation seriously. Over half of ASIO investigations target people aged 25 and under.

In prison, young offenders with no previous link to radical Islam can be turned into potential “lone wolf” attackers who present a real threat to our security once they are released.

No single program has successfully stopped radicalisation – despite the Baird Government setting up a $47 million Counter Violent Extremism program. But efforts must continue.

But whereas you and I will think better policing in our cities will improve public safety, Senator Lambie thinks the answer is to interfere with the freedom of women to wear what they want.

Few disagree that the burqa sits oddly with Australia’s open society where seeing someone’s face is an important part of our daily interactions.

Of course, the law already gives power to a police officer or a judge to demand a person remove any face covering in the interests of security or justice.

Prominent Muslim leader Jamal Daoud favours a ban saying the burqa is a sign of extreme conservative ideology. A burqa ban might prevent Islamist terror attacks, he says.

But there is no obvious link between burqas and burglaries. Clamping down hard on women who choose to express their religion will do little more than antagonise innocent people.

No matter how confronting we might find the burqa, by forcing a woman to act against her religious beliefs, Lambie’s law goes too far.

Peter Kurti is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies