UNESCO's Director Irina Bokova Says 'No' to Burqas

Irina Bokova will be installed as UNESCO’s new director today, as the first woman director.

Bulgaria’s Bokova lost no time outlining her positions on women’s issues, telling Radio Netherlands worldwide that she wants to encourage dialogue among Jews, Muslims and Christians in an effort to increase tolerance and respect.

Next she aligned herself with last week’s announcement by Eyptian Grand Imam Sheikh Mohamed Sayyed Tantawi, saying: “Personally I’m against the burqa. Some women can’t even see properly. It denigrates women, causes problems and gives women the feeling that they are not equal to men.”

As far as Ms Bokova is concerned, the all-encompassing garment worn by some Muslim women does no good at all, especially now that more and more burqa-clad women are appearing on the streets of Western Europe. The UNESCO head says that burqa-wearers must become more self-confident and more self-aware, stessing that education, education, education of Muslim women must be the UNESCO strategy.

Irina Bokova sees the burqa, especially in Western Europe, as a clash between cultures that has to be solved. Her solution is firm: the burqa has to go. Read: UNESCO chief wants to ban the burqa Radio Netherlands Worldwide