IN response to Mr A Hussain’s letter (July 10), Mr Hussain mentions women’s freedom to wear the veil but one has to ask, do they really have this freedom?

As they are led/ruled by their husbands/families in the main, could it be that they in fact are told to wear it?

He also asks what is the real reason to ban it. Well, for one, it is very divisive in this country and it is not something that actually helps towards cohesion.

From a security point of view, yes it should definitely be banned as we have already had a suspected terrorist escape the country dressed in this attire and this shows no-one knows just who is under there or what else they may be carrying.

And how can the veil be justified when hoodies are told to remove their hoods and motorcyclists told to remove their helmets for the reasons of identification?

Also, if a Muslim woman is stopped for a driving offence, just how would the policeman tell who it is causing the offence? Would they be allowed to look or would they just have to assume the driver is who she says she is?

The veil also offers a hazard to driving – would I be allowed to drive with a balaclava on? We cannot have preferential treatment for one group of people over another.

And in these days of increased terrorist threats, we need to be able to see just who is who. And that is what women who wear veils, whether by choice or not, need to realise, and so does the government.

Roy Wallbank (via email)