Behind the Veil

With Belgium set to join France in banning women from wearing the burqa or niqab in public, Yassin Musharbash writes that getting rid of the garment won’t solve the underlying problems of Muslim immigration and integration that plague Western societies. “Europe stands for the idea of a lively, open, democratic society,” she writes. “When part of the society removes itself (or is removed) from these ideals, then that is a problem. However, bans don’t make these ideals clearer or more palatable, don’t encourage participation, and don’t break down any barriers. “