The question is are they wearing it out of fear or devotion. If it's fear, then they need not in a Western society as they freedom of choice is protected. If out of devotion, let them wear it. But they still have to respect their host country in terms of national security.

Shall we stop using the post, telephone and sending e-mails,because I cannot see your face. Come on Jack there are far more important issues you could have raised, this is no way to encourage intigration, more like segregation. My hassidic parents would not like to change any of their attire.

Maybe from your comfortable world the women (seem )free , but I think maybe you should condescend to the lower levels of society and see what is really going on. If women in the western world are struggling . Just think about the third world .I will not go into details ,there are too many

Rachel, I am not that smart... Will you care to enlighten me please. Make your point in English if you will. Plus, at least one good example to support your argument will be highly encouraging when you write your thesis. You will get more point scored to your advantage. Awaiting your kind response. Amir

Amir , Two words to get the ball rolling:"honor killings" and "female circumcision" (not all Arab countries) ,maybe you have never heard of that right? And I am not playing a game trying to score points . Its a matter of justice my dear sir.

Point taken. I know exactly what these are and heard about them in both Jordan and UK by Palestinians at least. You must realize that Islam has nothing to do with honor killings or the circumcision issues in this multinational and multi cultural society-MENA. There are so much exotic lowly events in MENA as there are equally so in the rest of the world including the US and UK. You’ll find some in the local tabloids. Just to go back to the main issue of the veil, its part cultural and part religion. The honor killing and the other stuff is not even cultural, yet alone religion. Both are habits from the past and certainly both are to be feverously condemned. So Rachel, still, there is not substance to the matter apart from the deviation that you have created. Lets try again, shall we. Amir

going on in the Moslem world , cut the crap ....(.pardon my English sir)

Hi again, You said," going on in the Moslem World...." Don't get me started on the "Christian World" now... There is so much to my distaste in MENA and I hate it so much. But, we will not get ourselves into "Arab War I and Arab War II" as the West did during European War I & European War II" in order to get their society in order. Enough blood shed. I get your drift and I am so sad about where we are drifting... Amir

by a woman?

It really saddens me to read these comments. I wish that you would please go and do some research on why muslim women wear the headscarf. #31 john you had it right. It is for devotion and also a ruling from the Quran to wear Hijab, for both men and women. Women have to cover from head to toe and men have to cover from navel to knee. The comments about being Immigrants are very wrong, as I and many muslim sisters I know are all Australian, brought up in this culture and country for many generations. You are telling me to go back to my country?? I am Australian. I am not going against any culture or against my country. If a woman wants to wear a bikini down the street she gets noting (apart from the stares of onlookers) and if a muslim women who wants to be modest in her clothing and cover her head as to not attract the kind of looks the bikini clad woman would get then where is the problem? My husband does not force me to wear hijab, I was muslim and covering before we were married. Please people stop wasting your time slandering others and look at yourselves to improve your knowledge on such matters. #25 Bechor, well done you are perfectly right.

what is wrong with you jack dont you know your quran? only islam has the right toto limit or eliminete human rights.25 and 40 why are women required to ware these coverings. give me some examples from the quran.