David Vance SubstackRead More
Let’s cut to the chase; I believe that the United States ought to ban the burqa—that full covering that hides a woman’s face completely—in all public places. And I believe the rest of the West would then follow. The garb of Islam has no place whatsoever in the public square Let me explain why this makes sense.
First off, security is a genuine concern. You wouldn’t let someone just stroll into a bank or airport with a balaclava on, right? Same principle. A hidden face makes identification tough if not impossible, and that opens doors to real trouble—from everyday fraud to worse threats.
Even Muslim-majority countries have stepped in here: Tunisia, Morocco, Chad, and more recently Kazakhstan have restricted face veils after incidents where criminals or terrorists used them as cover. In today’s world, we can’t ignore this risk. Public safety has to come first.
Then there’s the crucial matter as to how we connect as human beings. Faces matter. A quick smile, a raised eyebrow, eye contact—these little things all build trust and connect us. When somebody’s face is completely obscured, those moments just vanish. Places like France and Belgium have framed their bans around “living together,” saying hidden faces chip away at the open exchanges that make society work. Humanity is built on this interaction; why let something block that?
Let’s also consider the tyranny these face veils constitute to a woman’s freedom. The burqa doesn’t just cover up—it erases. Some muslim dissidents argue that it’s a tool of male control, not a Koranic must. There’s no real clear command for full face covering in the Koran; it’s more cultural, tied to dark ages patriarchal views.
Countries like Switzerland, Denmark, and now Portugal have all cited gender equality in their restrictions, seeing the burqa as holding women back from full participation. People bring up religious freedom as a reason to hold back from a ban but laws against face coverings can be neutral—like existing rules on masks in certain spots—and apply to everyone.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about picking on Islam or rejecting difference. It’s about upholding shared values. We must prioritise safety for all, genuine openness, and real equality. We’ve limited other practices that clash with those—like polygamy. The burqa clashes too. It obscures identity and can divide us. Ban it
