Reject any legislative or policy proposal to ban the burqa or niqab in the UK.

Background

Affirm that any ban on religious face coverings would violate the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, and core democratic values. Protect the freedom of Muslim women to express their religion without coercion, criminalisation, or state interference.

Additional details

A ban would breach Article 9 rights, disproportionately impact Muslim women, risk court challenges, and inflame discrimination. Evidence from France and Belgium shows bans marginalise women, damage cohesion, and fail legally and socially. Britain must not follow that path.