France Bans "Burqa" and "Niqab"

I arrived on the Wikipedia homepage to conduct a search on zodiac signs for a crossword puzzle I was doing when I saw this under "In the news":

The French parliament passes a bill, controversially banning the wearing of the niqāb or the burqa Islamic garments in public.

WHAT?! That's pretty extreme, if you ask me. I thought us Western countries were supposed to be sterile and politically correct, but I guess I have a lot to learn about the differences between European society and North American society, even though we are both "western". Anyway, I needed to learn more.

I suppose a part of me was relieved when I found out that the "Hijab" form or Muslim women's dress hasn't been banned. I tried my best to sort out the hijab vs burqa vs niqab styles, but I eventually searched for some diagrams.

I presume this diagram was created in direct response to the French bill. Now I'll be honest, I have walked past women wearing the Niqab style before (the black garmnet in the above diagram), and I definitely found it chilling. There is something spooky about encountering masked people in public, but that's probably because it's not common in Canada. I have never actually seen someone in the Burqa style (the blue garment in the above diagram), but I am pretty sure I would find it just as shocking as the time when I walked past a guy in public wearing a black goggles and a full gas mask (he did it presumably for shock value--I encountered him at the Fringe fest).

I also came across this diagram. The hijab form of female covering is very common in Canada, and they don't shock me at all. I actually think they are quite lovely.

So far I have been commenting on the visual impact of these various Muslim women's coverings, ie, whether they are shocking or lovely. But there is a whole other side to this debate--are the requirements imposed on Muslim women oppressive or liberating? Cultural or based on the Qu'ran? What do you think?

It's clearly not up to me to make a judgment call on the matter, but I just thought it was interesting and good to know about.

burning qu'rans?

HONESTLY

I can't believe the bigotry.

a) The text of the Qu'ran doesn't instruct crashing planes into buildings or suicide bombings. It is extremists who carry out these actions in the name of their religion.

b) The text of the Bible doesn't instruct hateful actions and demonstrations against other people, like burning someone else's holy book. It is extremists who carry out these actions in the name of their religion.