Should We Ban the Burka?

15 July 2009

Virginia Haussegger, Julie Posetti and Dr Shakira Hussein

A public debate hosted by The Australian National University and The Canberra Times.

Muslim women's dress codes have come into the political spotlight in both Muslim-majority and non-Muslim societies. At one end of the spectrum the state has sought to enforce Islamic dress codes while at the opposite end the state has sought to ban certain items of women's religious dress.

Under the Taliban, Afghan women were forbidden to appear in public unless they were wearing the all-enveloping burka. Now, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has proclaimed that the burka and other forms of face-covering are not welcome in France.

In Australia, too, Muslim women's dress has been at the centre of a heated political and social debate.

This public debate brought together three leading figures to discuss questions such as whether we should ban the burka or respect the right to wear it, if the burka is a form of male oppression, what would be the effect of banning a piece of women's clothing and does the state have a place in a woman's wardrobe?

Moderated by Professor Hilary Charlesworth.

Broad Topics: Arts and Social Sciences, Asia and the Pacific

Sub-topics: Philosophy & Religion, Society & Culture

Areas: ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

Panellists:
Virginia Haussegger is a journalist, author, media commentator and TV news presenter. Her recent article in The Canberra Times said the burka subjugated women, and called for it to be banned in Australia.

Julie Posetti is a journalist and journalism academic from the University of Canberra. She is currently undertaking a PhD on the way the media portrays Muslim women and has published academically and journalistically on this theme.

Dr Shakira Hussein is a writer and researcher at The Australian National University. She has written extensively on issues affecting Muslim women.

Moderator:
Professor Hilary Charlesworth is an Australian Research Council Federation Fellow and Director of the Centre for International Governance and Justice at The Australian National University. She is an expert in international and human rights law.