Two bus drivers in Auckland did not let two women from Saudi Arabia get on their bus. This happened on two separate occasions. Both women were wearing a burqa – full length body covering, head covering and face veil. Both bus drivers said they were nervous about allowing someone onto their bus when they could not see the face of that person.
The Saudi Arabian Consul-General has written to the Human Rights Commissioner. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, John Key, said that in this country we do not discriminate against people because of their religious or cultural beliefs. The head of the bus company said that if the drivers do that again, they will lose their jobs.
Meanwhile the union representative said a few drivers were worried about safety. They remembered the terrorist attack on a bus in London. Although New Zealand has been safe from terrorism, there is concern about security during the Rugby World Cup.
It is not common to see women wearing a burqa in New Zealand. This is the first time there has been a problem like this.
Questions
France has banned the face veil in public places and many other countries are thinking about doing the same. Is this because of the fear of terrorism?
Motor cyclists have to remove their helmet before they enter a bank. Are women wearing a burqa allowed into a bank?
Our laws ban discrimination on the basis of race or religion. What do you think the Human Rights Commissioner will say about this case?
I’m in Iran.I would feel very nervous if i fly with women wearing Burqa becuase i can not know what they are hiding under their clothes.
Discrimination on the basis of race or religion must be banished all over the world. People can wear or not wear whatever they want.
Surely discrimination on religious basis must be banished…but since terrorists use burka to do their crime, better to be safe than caught in the trap…so I really agree with the banning of the veil in public places so that people can be more safe
Certain styles of western clothing can cause a lot of problems in certain countries. For the opposite reason…showing too much. I think visitors to these countries should respect this,just as burqas should not be accepted in certain places here (public buildings, – transport etc) I don’t want to hear this rubbish about freedom of religion. Wearing the Burqa has nothing to do with religion at all. In fact it is a form of supression. Supression..that is what should not be tolerated here.
Those bus drivers would lose their jobs?…what a load of rubbish..he wouldn’t say that if one day an explosion happened because of how relaxed NZ has become in letting religous beliefs come in the way of safety for our people of NZ. I have worked and travelled in alot of arab countries and we as westerners have to abide by their rules…ISLAM religion otherwise jail/prison is the consequence….there is no crying to the Human Rights because they do not exist…..so please don’t come to my country and bring your custom here.