Freedom Of Women
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Freedom of Women

Managing Editor
I was traveling in AC compartment by a train from Kolkata to Delhi. A girl who was approximately 25 years old sitting adjacent to me. She introduced herself and told me she was going to Delhi. She was very extrovert and I  did not feel bore during my 20 hours journey as I got a good companion. Two guys approximately similar age group stared the girl for a long time. I realised, the girl was feeling uncomfortable with them but could not say anything. After an hour or two, the girl went towards toilet and the guys followed her. The girl was very braved and shouted the guys, "Why are you always looking at me?..." When the girl returned in her seat, she explained me the things happened near toilet. Although the girl was very extrovert, yet she did not like unwanted people watch her face repeatedly. She told me if she would be a Muslim, she would have preferred to wear burqa (veil, many Muslim women wear) in public places. She disliked those activities the two guys were doing. 

Recently in France, government are trying to ban wearing burqua in public places. May be for the security reason and approximately 1000 women only wear burqa in the whole country which is very low in number. Lower house of parliament approved the bill and soon it may go to upper house. I am not going to discuss what is the Muslim religion define about burqa. But in a democratic country like France, government should consider individual's freedom, choice, interest, and respect women's dignity. People can not force a women to wear burqa similarly if any women want to wear it you can't prevent her doing so. This depend on individual's own choice and interest. This is modern Talibanism in a democracy.

I have communicated with several Muslim and non Muslim women and many of them desire to put on burqa to hide themselves from the indisciplined male. So where is the problem of government if women want to wear it? Security is a lame excuse to make it a law interfering women's dignity. Few years back, Indian Government introduced POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) for the security reason but government misused the Act and later the government came back from the Act. I am surprised to see that a large number of people in France supporting to ban burqa. But should there be any dress code in future for their citizen?

 

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