Quote Originally Posted by thir View Post
But starting to dictate how others should dress is impacting on their democratic rights. Exceptions are special jobs, where you have to dress neutral and where your face must be seen.
I agree with you to a point, but where does one draw the line between those who truly want to dress a certain way and those who are forced to by their religious leaders? Especially in Islam, but in other religions as well, women especially are required to dress to satisfy some arbitrary religious tenet, and trying to go against those tenets can get women seriously injured, even killed. Generally by their own husbands, or even sons!

I think her primary point, as is mine, is that any religion which FORCES its followers to remain true to the faith under penalty of death is nothing more than a cult. Banning of Sharia law in England, for example, would give those who want to leave the faith the opportunity to do so, with less fear of retaliation. It's important that all religious organizations, and those who run them (priests, imams, rabbis, etc.) should be held accountable to the secular law first, and then to their religious laws where applicable. Allowing them to escape from secular punishment because of religious beliefs is stupid and dangerous.

I also agree with her statement that religious organizations should be treated like any other business and be subject to standard tax laws of all countries. Allow them to take deductions for any charitable work they perform or donate to, but they don't deserve to be treated any differently than any other business.