Muslim women exempt from ID card photos [UK stupidity alert]

The Observer ^ | Sunday April 25, 2004 | Kamal Ahmed, political editor

[aculeus]

Thousands of Muslim women will be exempted from having to show their faces on identity cards as the Government moves to allay fears among British Muslims that the new cards will be used to target them in the 'war on terror'.

As David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, faced attack for not allowing enough debate over the introduction of the first ID cards in Britain since the Second World War, officials made it clear that if Muslim women do not want to reveal their faces in public, that would be respected.

Instead of a photograph, there would be an exemption for certain people, who would only have to give fingerprint and iris-recognition data.

Although the exact type of information held on the card has still to be finalised in negotiation with other industrialised nations, Home Office sources made it clear that they backed the idea.

'We have had constructive discussions with the Muslim community and want to assure them we are sensitive to their points of view,' said a source close to Blunkett.

The Home Secretary moved after representations from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). Officials on the council told The Observer that although they support the idea of identity cards they are concerned that they could be used to persecute ethnic minorities.

'As we have seen with the anti-terror laws and with stop and search, if powers are used in the wrong way they can have the effect of singling out a community for no good reason,' said a legal advisor to the MCB.

'We are not against ID cards as such, but we want to ensure that they are used properly.'

Blunkett will announce tomorrow a £3 billion scheme to introduce identity cards to Britain. Although at first the scheme will be voluntary, the Home Office will argue that the country should move to a compulsory scheme by 2012.

By then the public would not be forced to carry them but would have to produce a card within a limited period if asked by the police.

Blunkett has said privately that he wants people to carry them at all times.

The cards will cost £35 or between £70 and £80 for one combined with a driving licence or passport. They will contain name, age and date and will be linked to a national database which will contain information on criminal records, health details and social security information.

Civil liberties groups are set to condemn the proposals, which they say will put more power in the hands of the state and are likely to be technically unworkable.

'The public have serious and understandable concerns that the Government will simply not be able to handle the data they will be attempting to collect,' said Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty.

The Earl of Selborne, chairman of the Royal Society's influential science in society committee, said that the public should be aware of the dangers of ID cards.

'There has been a lack of public debate and there is a very real danger that we are sleepwalking into our technological future,' he said.

'The public suggested that they should hold information that might be useful in a medical emergency such as blood group or allergies.

'But what if the cards also held data about our genetic disposition to specific diseases, or revealed information about our lifestyles that affect health, such as how much we are overweight or how much alcohol we are drinking, updated daily.

'These are technically possible in the future, so we should be discussing whether they are desirable.'

Blunkett will argue that ID cards will help fight against organised crime, illegal immigration, terrorism, identity fraud and 'health tourism'.

[JeeperFreeper]

Amazingly stupid. Muslim fanatics want to kill them. European politicians want to help accomplish the task (Remember, these pols all have guards and security.)

[section9]

Monumentally stupid.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[dinok]

Now the terrorists can recruit women to do their killing like the Palestinians do in Israel.

We westerners are just stupid.

Arabs and Muslims are not affording us any respect...they actually want to murder us all. But we continue treeating them with respect.

I'll give them respect the day I can pray as a Christian in Saudi Arabia. And I'm not holding my breath on this one.

[risk]

Who's idea was it to bring them into England in the first place?

[Charlespg]

Oh NO
we must NOT Offend The POOR Peacefull Muslims

[sarcasm]

[tet68]

England sinks deeper into the muck.

[Freedom4US]

One hopes that those in government are more intelligent than the average person on the street, but obviously this is increasingly most assuredly not the case. The plan is unworkable and frankly idiotic from any number of angles.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Will they even take some kind of test to determine they really are women and not a cross dressing hermuslimdite ?

[Burkeman1]

Rather than impose the indignity and tyranny of any "ID card" on any citizen why not just stop Islamic immigration?

[Thom Pain]

When did they put Chirac in charge of Britain??

[ECM]

Suicidal and loving it bump!

[FairOpinion]

This is sheer insanity.

[Squantos]

That goodness my religion says I don't have to have a frigging ID card at all ........ if they are gonna bend for one then the system is moot IMHO. One more feel good measure against terrorism. How modern !

[SevenofNine]

Stupid stupid Stupid

What make these Muslum woman so special i got question here

What because they wear Veil

Nice going Brits

[freekitty]

It is stupid; but the bigger picture is to cause disention among cultures.

[lizma]

It's my understanding that in Muslim countries women are required to have full face photographs for ID's and passports. It's a no burka zone.

This is frickin insane! They won't even have to use women for their suicide parties. What makes them think that Muslim guys won't start being cross-dressers??? They could don the peephole sheets just as easy as the ladies.

How many people will be murdered before P.C. thinking will be dropped? I suspect quite a few. Frickin amazing.

[Selene]

This is unbelievable

[dirtbiker]

How many people will be murdered before P.C. thinking will be dropped? I suspect quite a few.

I'm afraid you are correct, unfortunately, the "enlightened ones" that think up these policies won't be the ones that will be murdered........

[John Lenin]

Mr Shanley please pick out the woman in the lineup who robbed your store ...

[fella]

I think I know where Osama is now.

[traumer]

Amazingly similar to 'reverse profiling' at US airports !!

[lizma]

the "enlightened ones" that think up these policies won't be the ones that will be murdered........

BINGO! I live in liberal land just outside of the beltway and this is EXACLY how these people think. Their attitude is me first, screw the rest.

I went out to lunch with some liberals a few years ago. I noticed at the table we were waiting for, the family who had left had left their umbrella behind. I picked it up and ran after the family. When I got back the libs started to rib me. "Doesn't loser weepers, finders keepers apply to conservatives?" They thought my actions were hilarious. I said "No, do unto others is my choice".

That shut them up, and I never spent time with those people again. I don't want my kids around them and I don't want to be around them

[traumer]

A woman in burka about 6' 5" with a cane...

:o)

[weegee]

That goodness my religion says I don't have to have a frigging ID card at all

Yes, my religion warned against being made to carry the mark of the beast in my hand or on my head. No ID card for me. I am not a number, I am a free man.

[Levante]

Unbelievable...

Is everyone in Europe scared sh*tless of these f*king savages?

[Sacajaweau]

Ya mean like there will be a lot of tall Muslim women showing up....with hairy arms and beards etc..

[dennisw]

bttttttttttt

[traumer]

"No ID card for me... "

Sorry, a time may come you will be simply ORDERED....

[ValenB4]

France is more stern with it's Muslim minorities than Britain. Chirac was smart enough to stay out of Iraq. France learned it's lesson after Algeria, where Chirac actually fought and was wounded.

[weegee]

Orders schmorders. If the British government wanted to enforce their ID program, they wouldn't acknowledge 2 types of citizens, those who MUST be photographed and those who can demand not to be.

[montag813]

Who's idea was it to bring them into England in the first place?

Watch "Lawrence of Arabia". The Brits have an obsessive love of Arab culture (perhaps because British men are mostly fags at heart and dream of being whisked away and deflowered by Omar Sherif). The film makes me sick because ever since the Turks no longer run things in the Mideast and the Saudis and Arabs do, the that area became the choatic hell-hole it remains today. The worst decision the Allies ever made was putting the Ibn Saud clan in charge over there.

[aculeus]

I stake my claim to this year's MUSIT.

(The most use of "stupid" in a thread trophy.)

[miltonim]

Darwin award contestant

[lizma]

with hairy arms and beards etc.

Are you assuming that would exclude some Iraqi women? I beg to differ.

[dixie sass]

Since a burqua covers the wearer from head to foot, how can they tell whether it is a man or woman under there anyway?

[DoctorMichael]

Insanity.

Fit in or go the f+@k home.

[dixie sass]

Are you sure thats a woman?

[Travis McGee]

Muslims are trying to kill or convert us, and we're bowing and scraping to avoid offending their tender sensibilities. Maddening!

[1066AD]

You either have an ID card universally or not. Same rules for all. Remember that in the UK there is no picture ID except a passport. (If I'm out of date someone say so).
For those fulminating about it on the US side, don't we already have a de facto national ID card - driving licences (and use of Social Security numbers)? Otherwise why all the fuss about illegal aliens getting them ?

[Right_in_Virginia]

'We have had constructive discussions with the Muslim community and want to assure them we are sensitive to their points of view,' said a source close to Blunkett.

This stupidity will lead to the end of Western civilization--we strive to be "nice"--while they plot to kill us.

[scoastie]

the Brits are running around attempting to thwart terrorist activities inside the UK...now this id card for Muslim women with no pic is going to be SO helpful to the enemy....the Brits may as well stop running around and let an attack take place..because it will probably involve women who have id cards with no pic...doh!

[scoastie]

Just read the Drudge Report about the national id cards...hey they can use the fingerprint..no face there!!!

[Post Toasties]

Instead of a photograph, there would be an exemption for certain people, who would only have to give fingerprint and iris-recognition data.

Well, those should be easy to check during a traffic stop. Not.

Britiots.

[John Lenin]

I'd have to do a reach around to make sure.

[dixie sass]

Blush! Giggle.

[Freedom4US]

It's literally a crime in the EU to express dismay at immigration.