Does the UK apply face covering rules inconsistently by exempting burkas, niqabs and hijabs?
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 allows police to create mask-free zones at protests where concealing identity for crime is suspected, with exemptions for religious, health or work reasons including niqabs. Local measures such as Nottingham's Public Spaces Protection Order similarly target balaclavas used for antisocial behaviour but exempt religious coverings like burkas. Reform UK has called for a full ban on all face coverings in public including religious ones, while the government maintains religious freedom in daily life.
19 Opinions
Wear a mask for medical reasons, ie coving, I still see people with those on.
Let people do what they want - I don't like seeing teenagers strutting about in balaclavas but it's none of my damn business. The Karenisation of the UK needs to end
There is nothing in Islamic scripture that mandates the wearing of full face covering. It is an interpretation of hard line Islamists. That hard line culture is incompatible with Western values, including tackling misogyny. There is no reason the burka shouldn't be included in a ban on face coverings, and it has been enacted in several other countries. We should follow suit.
This is clearly the case. The Govt was also not bothered about masks when pro-palestinian marchers and pro-trans marchers used them. Suddenly now it's people the Govt doesn't approve of (or appease) they now decide masks should be banned It's the Government's mask that has slipped
No, they are interpreting the law correctly, because nobody is saying everyone in a niquab is a criminal. We do need another law, like in Europe, saying niquabs are banned for the good of society, women and integration.
Yes. If your sole basis for retaining Political power is to pander to & forever excuse a hateful violent corrupt Imperialistic women hating 5th Century death cult what do you expect? Antifa as the Labour Party’s own terrorist branch demonstrates that they too will be ignored & BLM. This is solely targeted at indigenous people who have had enough. That in itself says we have an illegitimate & rogue ‘government’ & arguably opposition to these traitors becomes an obligation.
I said No, truth is people from different religions have the right to observe there own beliefs. Its not the face covering that is the problem its terrorists using religion as an excuse to cause horrible atrocities. Not everyone who follows a certain religion is going to harm people.
It's either a full ban on face coverings including islamists or no ban. Making islamists exempt is just opening the loop hole for abuse. Want to protest, cause trouble and not get caught wear islamists attire. They can't ask the six foot obviously a man to remove at as it opens them to racism charges and if they argue that it's a man wearing it they are screwed on gender bs!
There is no pattern of abuse of wearing religious coverings to require any changes. There are plenty of very visible examples of where gangs, muggers and protests have used balaclavas, scarves and helmets to intimidate or to cover identity during disorder People screaming “what about the hijabs or burquas” might be artificially scared into believing there is a problem, be using this as an excuse to be part of a balaclava led mob or be prejudiced.
There is no reason for a full face covering in religion and if you don’t like it go live where you can cover your face without fear of being arrested.