Burqa? The answer is no

I understand and agree that it is not a priority for the country. And I must confess: to date, I have seen only one woman wearing a burqa on the street. In niqab, I saw three or four. But as the issue has imposed itself on society – even if against its rhythm – it is worth discussing it. If possible, be honest and open.

First, making it clear: the topic was poorly scheduled. With the vulgarity that Chega introduced into public life, the topic was wrapped in a mix of xenophobic platitudes and non-existent ghosts. The streets of Portugal are not full of burqas, as my eyes and those of the reader can confirm.

Still, I do not focus on the messenger – as excesses can be corrected by law – but on the message. Should the burqa be banned in public spaces? As for me, yes. And for three reasons: gender equality, sociability and security.

The first appears in order and importance. A liberal society is governed by a culture of formal equality, before the law, but also substantive, practical equality. Neither man nor woman can be bothered to dress as they please. Well: the use of the burqa or the niqab does not fit into these terms. On the one hand, because we know that it is an imposition on women. On the other hand, because it is an oppressive symbol. In darkness, there is the erasure of the person and, in a liberal society, no person is erased by imposition.

The second reason concerns sociability. Having your face covered makes it difficult to interact with strangers. An open society presupposes a healthy and comfortable coexistence between those who make up it. And it’s also about health. The loneliness of many is combatted with small moments of coexistence with strangers, especially in the lives of the elderly and people with hearing impairments. Public space is, par excellence, the place where these moments take place.

Finally, wearing a burqa in public spaces does pose a safety problem. A covered face is a person impossible to clearly identify. And, in this regard, it has nothing to do with the use of hospital masks, motorcycle helmets or even Carnival attire. The law already allows for these exceptions. It is possible to have your face covered for “health, professional, artistic and entertainment or advertising reasons”. As you can see, reader, religious reasons are not included except in places of worship.

But, beyond the letter of the law, there is the philosophy that guides it. If the debate on the topic had taken place a few decades ago, it would have succumbed to the temptation of unrestricted liberalism: hence multiculturalism. However, today we have the advantage of knowing recent history and having a watermark to make decisions. Multiculturalism has failed in Europe: these words, which are more or less, were said by Merkel and Macron. Diversity is not multiculturalism: it is integration and coexistence between different people in a common space.

And this space, where everyone integrates, does not arise by chance. It results from the Western and liberal way of life, shaped by the law that derives from the culture and customs internalized in the community. An open society does not arise or maintain itself by decree: it is so due to the existence of certain values ​​and their practical translation into day-to-day life. The burqa or niqab, due to what they symbolize and their visual impact, are a direct affront to the values ​​of an open society.

This is the only way to guarantee social cohesion, and this is fundamental for the existence of a liberal democracy. Liberalism, which has individual conscience as its founding principle, has sometimes maximized the principle of freedom to a point that it has become counterproductive. It was designed for societies in which there is social cohesion.

For democracy to function, it presupposes that, in essence, we see ourselves in each other. It needs a lowest common denominator, and this results from a delimitation of values: some stay, others leave. The latter sometimes have to leave due to the prohibition of certain practices. And this topic, I think, is a perfect example of that. It is sensible to prohibit the use of the illiberal and ultramontane burqa, due to the need for such minimums of healthy and dignified coexistence.

I like democracy, and that’s why I know it. I know your strengths and loose ends. I know where the saw of those who don’t like her can cut until she falls. I prefer to keep the saw on the sidelines.

It is on topics like this, which touch on the foundations of our coexistence, that I remember this most.