National Party MP Bob Clarkson is defending his criticisms of Muslim women who wear the head-to-toe covering known as a burkha.
Clarkson upset the Muslim community after saying that Muslim women who wear a burhka should return home.
"There's just that one piece of cloth called a burkha and I just
have trouble with that. You know, I don't think they are fitting
into our society," he says.
Clarkson insists he does not want to offend anybody but says if
people want to come to New Zealand, they have to learn to tolerate
Kiwi society.
"When you go to a bank and see a sign up that you cannot wear a helmet into the bank, for security reasons I suspect, why should we let a Muslim woman walk in there with a burkha on?"
But the Muslim community says Clarkson's remarks are unwarranted and irresponsible.
"New Zealand is a multi cultural society and a multi religious society and that is part of being in a modern society. Everyone is basically merging with other societies. Why is Mr Clarkson not being able to adjust with other societies," says Porirua Islamic Community spokesperson Imran Kamal.
Kamal says the burkha is part of Muslim religion and Clarkson needs to understand why its important to their faith.
"I feel that's very irresponsible of a member of parliament specially a member of the national caucus speaking about this and he needs to be basically reprimanded."
National Party leader Don Brash issued a statement saying the
party is not interested in what people wear provided they believe
in values like religious and personal freedom and sexual
equality.
