Cork city councillor and former city mayor, Joe O’Callaghan, has called for a complete ban on the full face veil in Ireland. Following similar legislation in other European countries, O’Callaghan has submitted a motion in this respect to be debated at next month’s Cork city council meeting. His rejection of the full face veil is based on two grounds: he describes the full face veil as an “affront to women” incompatible with modern society and considers them to be a security risk. Representatives of the main mosque organization, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, rejected the proposal as discriminatory, while stating that the full face veil is not mandatory in Islam. Representatives of Irish immigration organizations characterized the motion as “childish, opportunistic and irresponsible” while doubting its seriousness.
