Niqab?

In my opinion, niqab or non-niqab is not the issue. The issues are:

• How we can understand each other’s feelings, culture, faith, history and moral values.
• How we can become more inclusive, while implementing our lows into civil society. 
• How we can build inter- and intra-community discussions. 
• How we can manage our inter- and intra-generational dialogue. 
• How we can become a rights based society for all.

I believe the body cover or the lack of it aren’t the issue. It should be seen as a reaction of the people who feel they’re not being listened to, their faith is not respected and they are denied the rights of citizenship.

If we can address the above issues, we can see the niqabs or minarets aren’t the issue. The issue is the human feeling of the individual citizen (male or female) that they are not respected enough to have a role to play in building the society.

Such news headlines cause extremes to gain more ground, while the moderate, modern, liberal thinkers are left behind.

In the long-term, nobody wins in the race of politics, while culture, faith and shared values live forever with nations.

Let us end our term in office on a good note, making people wish we stayed longer or even want us back.