veiled threats, page-12

Spot on about Turkey and Persia, Fillip!
Take Afghanistan, for example, when it had persian dominated culture in the past, as a kingdom, women back then didn't veil themselves in burkas, even in the middle ages. Not until some smatrheads decided to arm and train the most radical tribe in the country.
Some friendly regimes impose burkas, but its ok, cose they're friendly. At the same time, the 'enemy' Iran (Persia) does not impose wearing burkas, but they are the 'bad guys' so we may even start a war with them for some reasons ...
Just makes you think, if the attitude to women means so little in the foreign relations, no wander that it's not a big deal in the internal affairs of the 'western' societies - burkas and genital mutilation become part of the everyday life (not that I put this 2 on the same shelf).