Niqab No More

          Canada has just banned the wearing of conservative muslim niqabss and burqa's while swearing citizenship. The reasoning is derived from politicians and citizenship judges feeling that it is hard to witness ones swearing of the oath when cloaked behind a veil.

          The decision is a political, cultural and moral tug of war, with one side for religious freedoms and tradition, and the other for authenticity and tradition of swearing the Canadian Citizenship Oath. Now, I have never sworn our oath, nor even witnessed one doing so, but I would like to imagine that both parties could compromise without having to create laws and offenses. Surely a judge could listen to one oath at a time, for if they are concerned about the authenticity of the oath, it should not be done as a group, but rather as individuals anyway. As I am sure any legitimate person wishing to become a Canadian citizen, could spare a few extra minutes to personally swear oath, where any judge or politician can clearly hear that person, and only that person swearing allegiance.

          This should not have came down to creating laws and regulations, rather simple communication between both parties, along with some oh so constructive thinking, would have resolved this issue without making it a potentially political hot potato.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2011/12/201112135531620401.html