The news from Syria is interesting this week (oh yes it is!), for according to AsiaNews.it the government there has banned the wearing of the niqab by students and teachers in schools and colleges. They have done so, apparently, in order to counter the spread of ‘extremist ideas’.

Syria, of course, is ruled by a secular government that is keen to keep religious radicalism away from their young people. This one can fully understand. Less understandable, maybe, is the connection they make between the covering of the face with a veil and Islamic fanaticism. However, a women’s rights activist is quoted as saying that the niqab represents a ‘declaration of extremism’ and that the wearing of the veil is not something that is called for by neither the Qur’an nor the Sunnah (the sayings of Mohammed).

I’m hardly knowledgeable enough to say whether this is correct or not, but this decision by a Middle eastern country, coming as it does so soon after the decision to ban the veil in France, is an interesting development. Our own government over the weekend suggested that the UK would not be following suit saying that such a decision would not reflect the tolerant nature of British people.

I have to say that I’m glad that the government takes this view but does it reflect public opinion? According to one recent poll, it seems not. An international survey carried out by the American organisation Pew Global Attitudes Project found that 62% of Britons favoured a ban. This compared with 82% of French people and only 28% of Americans.

Now, that we in the west – with our limited understanding of Islam – are in favour of the ban is one thing, but when the government of a country that is very familiar with that faith does so it does make you think. What are your views?