Damon Mcknight
The burqa, a full-body covering worn by some Islamic women, has been the subject of debate in Australia for several years, with some politicians and members of the public calling for its ban in public spaces. The main arguments for a ban centre around security concerns and the belief that women may be forced to wear the garment by men. However, it is important to note that only a very small number of women wear the burqa in Australia, and those who do choose to wear it say that a ban would force them to stay at home. While interim laws have been introduced to require the removal of face coverings in certain situations, there is currently no blanket ban on the burqa in Australia, and the debate continues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people wearing burqa | A very small number of women |
| Public opinion | More than half of Australians support banning the burqa in public spaces |
| Political opinion | Most politicians support a ban, either in public places or in all settings |
| Political parties supporting a ban | Australian Conservatives and One Nation |
| Security concerns | Difficulty in identifying burqa wearers, potentially enabling crime |
| Arguments against a ban | Muslim women can choose to wear a burqa, banning it would force them to stay at home |
| Current status | No ban, but interim laws force Muslim women with face coverings to sit separately in Parliament |
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What You'll Learn
Public opinion on banning the burqa
Arguments in Support of a Ban
Some Australians, including politicians like Fred Nile, Cory Bernardi, George Christensen, Jacqui Lambie, Mark Latham, Pauline Hanson, and Tony Abbott, have openly supported a ban on the burqa, either in public spaces or all settings. They argue that the burqa poses a security risk by concealing the identity of the wearer, potentially enabling the carriage of weapons or explosive devices. This view gained traction after the Moscow theatre hostage crisis in 2002, where terrorists wore full-body coverings. Additionally, some critics argue that women might be forced to wear the burqa by men, suggesting it as a symbol of male control and power.
Arguments Against a Ban
On the other hand, many Australians oppose a ban on the burqa, citing concerns about religious freedom, tolerance, and the rights of Muslim women. They argue that the security threat posed by face veils is minimal, with only a small fraction of the population wearing them and very few instances of their use in crimes. Banning the burqa could isolate Muslim women, forcing them to choose between obeying the law and denying their faith or risking criminal charges. Additionally, studies from countries like France and Belgium, which have implemented similar bans, show an increase in intolerance and violence towards women who wear face veils. Instead of a ban, some suggest that police be given the power to request the removal of face coverings for identification purposes when necessary.
Public Opinion Polls
Public opinion polls in Australia have shown varying results. A 2017 Sky News Australia and ReachTEL poll found that more than half of the 2,832 respondents supported or strongly supported banning the burqa in public spaces. However, it's important to note that the poll may not be fully representative of the diverse views and perspectives of all Australians.
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Burqa ban in Parliament
In Australia, there is an ongoing debate over the possibility of banning the wearing of the burqa and niqab, conservative forms of dress for Islamic women. A main argument for the ban is security, especially in government areas such as Parliament House, where people wearing face coverings might be required to show their faces for 'security and identification purposes'. Another argument is that men force Islamic women to wear the dress, although some Islamic women disagree, saying that they feel "naked" without a burqa and that a ban would force them to stay at home.
In September 2011, Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, passed the Identification Legislation Amendment Act 2011, requiring a person to remove a face covering if asked by a state official. In September 2014, Senator Jacqui Lambie announced plans to introduce a private member's bill aimed at banning the burqa in Australia. In February 2017, she introduced a private member's bill that would amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 to make it illegal to wear full-face coverings in public places when a terrorism threat declaration is in force.
In 2017, a poll of 2,832 Australian residents found that more than half of the respondents either supported or strongly supported banning the burqa in public spaces. Several politicians, including Cory Bernardi, George Christensen, Jacqui Lambie, Mark Latham, Pauline Hanson, and Tony Abbott, have openly advocated for a ban on the burqa, either in public places or in all settings. In 2017, far-right politician Pauline Hanson wore a face veil in parliament as part of her campaign to ban the Islamic face veil. She claimed that a "large majority" of Australians supported banning the burqa, although Attorney General George Brandis stated that the government would not ban the veil.
The burqa ban in Parliament has been criticised for conflicting with Section 116 of the Constitution, which prohibits the federal government from making any law "prohibiting the free exercise of religion". It has also been criticised as segregating Muslim women and potentially breaching anti-discrimination laws.
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Burqa as a security risk
In Australia, there is an ongoing debate over the possibility of banning the wearing of the burqa and niqab, conservative forms of dress for Islamic women. A main argument for the burqa ban is security, especially in important places like government buildings and Parliament House.
The burqa, which covers the entire body and face, with the eyes covered with mesh, is worn by only a very small number of women in Australia. However, some people argue that burqa wearers cannot be easily identified, which could make it easier for them to commit crimes or hurt people. In 2011, the state of New South Wales passed the Identification Legislation Amendment Act, requiring a person to remove a face covering if asked by a state official. This law is viewed as a response to a court case in 2011 where a woman in Sydney was convicted of falsely claiming that a traffic policeman had tried to remove her niqab.
In 2017, Senator Jacqui Lambie introduced a private member's bill that would amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 to make it illegal to wear full-face coverings in public places when a terrorism threat declaration is in force, unless it was necessary for certain purposes. Lambie and other supporters of the ban argue that burqas pose a security risk, especially in government areas. They claim that the burqa makes it difficult for police to identify people, which could hamper the effectiveness of CCTV and make it easier for criminals or terrorists to conceal their identities. However, there is no statistical evidence to support these claims, and the Home Office, Scotland Yard, and the National Police Chiefs Council have stated that they are not aware of any statistics showing the proportions of people who cannot be identified on CCTV due to face coverings.
While critics of the burqa argue that it is a security risk, others point out that the same could be said for other types of face coverings such as hoodies, big hats, balaclavas, masks, or even KKK robes. In addition, the number of women who wear the burqa in Australia is very small, and they make up a tiny proportion of terrorism-related offences. Some Islamic women say that a ban on the burqa would effectively force them to stay at home, as they would feel "naked" without their traditional dress. Overall, while there are concerns about the security risks posed by the burqa, there is a lack of solid evidence to support these claims, and a ban on the burqa could have negative consequences for the small number of women who choose to wear it.
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Burqa ban in other countries
The burqa, an all-enveloping outer garment that completely covers the body and face, is worn by some Muslim women in various countries. As of 2025, 16 states have banned the burqa and niqab, both Muslim-majority countries and non-Muslim countries. However, it is important to note that the number of countries with bans may vary depending on the source and the year. Here is an overview of some countries that have implemented bans or restrictions on the burqa:
Austria: Austria has banned the burqa to address security concerns and promote integration. The government argues that full-face coverings hinder communication and social cohesion, emphasizing the importance of secularism and gender equality.
Belgium: Brussels introduced a ban on the burqa and similar face-covering dress in 2018, citing concerns over public safety and social integration. The law aims to facilitate communication and prevent individuals from concealing their identities in public spaces. In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights upheld Belgium's ban.
Bulgaria: Bulgaria implemented a partial ban on burqas, focusing on public spaces. The government justifies this decision by promoting social cohesion and security, aiming to preserve cultural values and maintain national identity.
Denmark: Denmark banned burqas to protect public safety and promote integration within its multicultural society. The law ensures individuals are identifiable in public spaces for security reasons and also aims to ensure gender equality and secularism.
France: France banned wearing a full-face veil in public back in 2011.
Switzerland: In 2024, Swiss voters approved a nationwide ban on the burqa, with over 51% of the electorate supporting it.
Tajikistan: While not specifically mentioning the burqa, the Tajik government passed a law in 2017 requiring people to "stick to traditional national clothes and culture," effectively preventing women from wearing Islamic clothing styles.
Morocco: In 2017, Morocco banned the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of the Afghan burqa, but this does not apply to other types of niqab.
Sri Lanka: Following the Easter terror attack in 2019, the Sri Lankan government banned all types of clothing covering the face, including the burqa and niqab.
Canada: In 2008, the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration issued a decree banning the niqab or any other face-covering garments for women during their oath of citizenship. However, this edict was later overturned by a Court of Appeal.
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Life for those who wear the burqa in Australia
In 2010, a woman in Western Australia sought to give evidence in court wearing a niqab, but her request was refused on the basis that the jury needed to see her face. A similar incident in 2011 led to the New South Wales government passing the Identification Legislation Amendment Act 2011, requiring a person to remove a face covering if asked by a state official. This law has been used to justify the need for those wearing the burqa to identify themselves in high-security places, such as Parliament House.
The main argument for banning the burqa in Australia is security, especially in government areas. The burqa has also been criticised as a form of dress that is forced on women by men. However, some Islamic women have expressed that they feel naked without their burqa and that a ban would force them to stay at home. Others have stated that they feel judged by the public when wearing the burqa and have experienced harassment and assault on public transport.
While the number of people wearing the burqa in Australia is small, the debate around it continues. A 2017 poll found that more than half of the respondents supported or strongly supported banning the burqa in public spaces. Several political parties also officially support a ban, and some politicians have introduced private member's bills to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 to make it illegal to wear full-face coverings in public places during a terrorism threat declaration. However, there are currently no plans for a blanket ban on the burqa in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Only a very small number of women wear the burqa in Australia.
The burqa is a type of Islamic headwear that covers the entire body and face, while the eyes are covered with mesh.
The main argument for banning the burqa in Australia is security, especially in places like Parliament House.
No, but there has been an ongoing debate over the possibility of a ban. In 2014, Australian MPs called to ban Islamic full-face veils in Parliament, and interim laws were introduced that forced Muslim women who cover their faces to sit separately in a glass-enclosed public gallery.
Some Muslim women say they feel 'naked' without wearing a burqa, and that a ban would effectively 'force' them to stay at home.
