Women's rights - in secular and religious households, and communities - has to be struggled for. It's only through such struggles, that people educate themselves and their communities, and it's only then that attitudes begin to change.
If we go down the road of banning the burqa, we can expect that next week ignorant law makers will find some thing else "offensive" they'd like to ban. Equal marriage rights? The building of a mosque in a certain neighbourhood?
Prejudice and discrimination against minorities - which is what the call to ban the burqa is about - has devastating consequences.
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Those who really support human rights should not support calls to ban the burqa.
This article is the text of a speech given by Pip Hinman to a packed meeting in inner city Sydney on the topic "Is banning the burqa racist?" on November 24. Pip Hinman was one of two local residents to organise a "Town Hall" meeting in response to community concern at Christian Democrat Fred Nile's bill to "ban face coverings" and a Newtown shop keeper's "Say no to the burqa" mural. The meeting also heard from Sally McMannus, state secretary of the Australian Services Union, Father Dave Smith, Holy Trinity Church, Amanda Perkins and Aisha Chaabou, a student activist all of whom opposed the ban call. It also heard from those supporting a ban. A resolution opposing a ban was passed by a two thirds majority.
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