Police officers stand on guard next to a woman wearing a burqa
Police officers stand on guard next to a woman wearing a burqa near the venue where controversial Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders will speak in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool February 22, 2013. Security at the function centre was tight for Wilders, who speaks against the spread of Islam across the world. Reuters

Australia's proposed move to ban wearing of burqa in Parliament House has triggered a pro and anti burqa debate. The ban is being spearheaded by a few MPs, whose demand was indirectly endorsed by the Prime Minister Tony Abbot through some off the reactions. The MPs are citing a security hazard in burqa at a time Australia has raised its terror levels.

Parliament officials are expected to enforce the ban next week after taking advice from security agencies. According to a Fairfax Media, report, demand for banning burqa in Parliament got more support when PM Abbott's senior adviser, Peta Credlin confirmed her support to MP and burqa critic George Christensen. It was Mr Christensen and South Australian senator Cory Bernardi led the push to ban the garment in Parliament House, reported Sydney Morning Herald.

Confronting Garment

Prime Minister Tony Abbott in his reaction expressed support for a ban on the dress in Parliament House, mainly on security grounds. Mr Abbott said he saw burqa as a "confronting form of attire" and wished it was not worn. Abbot also reminded all that Australia is a free country and it is not the business of government to tell people what they should wear. Abbott's comments prompted a backlash from the Muslim community and other public figures. Even Australia's human rights commissioner Tim Wilson saw no justification in banning burqa though he too finds it confronting, reported NZ Herald.

The rights commissioner said people have the right to wear what they want, particularly on religious grounds. Wilson sees no issues on security as there security measures put in place such as identity checkpoints to establish their identity and ensure security, he told ABC radio.

Divisive Step

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's description of burqa as "confronting" has been labelled dumb and divisive by the Labour Party.

Labour MP Tony Burke said Abbott wasted an opportunity in unifying Australians in the current security climate. He told Sky News that the PM still speaks like an Opposition leader. He alleged that Abbot is not bringing people together in a way that Australia needed it. Meanwhile, Jacqui Lambie, Palmer United Party Senator, too joined the anti-burq brigade and announced that she would introduce a private member's bill to ban burqa in public places. She considers it a national security issue. So, the burqa episode may not have an early closure.