LETTER TO THE EDITOR: French burqa ban a boon to women’s rights

OPINION:

As Australia’s first woman prime minister, Julia Gillard should immediately announce Australia’s support for France’s draft ban of the burqa (“Lower house approves burqa ban,” Gepoloitics, Wednesday).

We’re a free and “open-faced” Western society where no one has the right to mask his or her identity from all other Australians of all colors, classes and religions. And what of the great struggles and sacrifices of early 20th century Western women’s rights champions? They would be in vain if our society were to allow full-face veils. Are we modern Australians going to allow newcomers to drag us back to primitive times and in so doing, denigrate and belittle women?

HOWARD HUTCHINS

Victoria, Australia