Quora Answer: Could a Burqa Possibly be a Security Threat?

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Could a burqa’ possibly be a security threat?” 

The burqa’ is a more than just a veil.  It involves covering the entire face, as well as the body.  In that light, it is entirely reasonable to think that it can be a security threat.  Any person, regardless of gender, could cover themselves, strap a bomb and become a suicide bomber.  Security agencies and the authorities are right to take action.  The argument that we should leave the burqa’ be, because it is a requirement of the religion is also false.  This is not found in the Qur’an, or in the hadits.  Fringe positions, and extreme interpretations of jurisprudence, from a specific cultural context, do not dictate our security policy.  The good of society should outweigh the idiocy of the religious fringe.  How many lives are we willing to risk, just so a few can cosplay ancient Arabia?