I’m appalled by Boris Johnson’s comments on the niqab being compared to a “letterbox” (Johnson should apologise for ‘offensive’ burqa remarks, says May, 8 August). As an Ahmadi Muslim woman who has chosen to wear a hijab, I find Mr Johnson’s words to be utterly offensive. A Muslim woman – or any woman, in fact – has a right to wear what she pleases. Why does the media consistently target Muslim women who wish to wear Islamic dress? It’s not a government’s place to ban Islamic or any religious clothing. It’s absurd that running around naked seems to be OK but wearing clothes is offensive. Surely Denmark should focus on pressing issues such as climate change, pollution and the gender pay gap.

In a new working paper, Henrik Kleven states “The arrival of children creates a gender gap in earnings of around 20%” in Denmark, penalising a woman for having a child. These are the real issues Denmark should focus on. As for Mr Johnson’s offensive remarks, I urge himMr Johnson to think about the way he talks about women. The Qur’an (chapter 24, verse 32) teaches: “Restrain their looks and guard their private parts, and that they display not their beauty or embellishment except that which is apparent thereof and that they draw their head-covering over their bosoms.”

It’s a woman’s choice to decide how she wishes to cover herself. And as Mr Johnson isn’t a woman, I think it’s best for him to not speak on our behalf, especially if he can’t do so respectfully.

Nadia Rehman

Kingston, Surrey

• I pinch myself to defend Boris Johnson, but consider this. The burqa and niqab are cultural artifices, merely commandeered and promoted by Islamic conservatives. Indeed, the Afghan chadri (the full face coverage) predates Islam. If neither of these garments is Islamic, then deriding them cannot be Islamophobic. Johnson’s remarks may fall under the Prince Philip school of international diplomacy, but once we accept them as “insulting to Islam” we are on the slippery slope to invoking blasphemy laws. Our local nuns look like penguins, and I vehemently defend the right to say so.

Jon Bennett

Oxford

• Why is the Conservative party continually let off the hook over its racism? The most recent example, in a long line of racist comments/statements by Boris Johnson over many years, is being treated as just one more inappropriate comment rather than indicative of a very serious problem both for him and the party. Mr Johnson is only the tip of a very large iceberg. The “hostile environment” in the Home Office is also a prime example of institutional racism in action, as is the failure to properly censure Mr Johnson (Editorial, 8 August). An apology, even if he would give one, would simply not be good enough.

It surely is time that Mrs May and the Conservative party were put under the same kind of scrutiny that Mr Corbyn and the Labour party have been, and continue to be, to both accept the problem and put changes into effect. It would be good to see you taking a lead in identifying the real problem and then putting on the pressure until some effective action is put in place.

Judy Stober

Bruton, Somerset

• Boris Johnson can bring buffoonery into any situation, but Theresa May’s comments are somewhat risible as well: “Women should be able to choose how they dress”. What planet is May living on if she thinks that the women concerned have any real choice in the matter, and are not victims of rigid social custom and misogynistic control?

Fay Marshall

Brighton

• I think Boris Johnson looks like a baboon’s bottom with a haystack on top. That might be charming if he were a decent human being, but given the malevolent nature of his interventions it would be a blessing to all if we were spared the sight and sound of him, and of his camp followers. He is no joke. Every woman without exception has the right to wear whatever she wants, or nothing at all, without fear of abuse or persecution.

Sally Griffin

Brighton

• The Boris Johnson matter is simply solved. Britain rejoices in a parliamentary system, and the local party should simply deselect him, with or without a forthcoming apology. I am not sure the Uxbridge Conservatives realise their potential. Not being an MP would prevent the deleterious PM scenario once and for all. For good measure, they should say that until Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been a free woman for 50 years, they will not consider him as a parliamentary candidate.

Dr Rupert Jeffcoat

Bedworth, Warwickshire

• Lest people think that laws that ban covering the face do wrong only to highly strict Muslim women, please think about the increasing use of cameras with face recognition that can track everyone’s movements around the city. Until we have strict laws that prohibit the systematic practice of face recognition, except using the faces of court-designated criminal suspects, in any areas where the public is admitted, the only way we can protect our privacy is by covering our faces. We must defend our right to do this.

I am neither Muslim nor a woman, but these laws attack my rights. They attack yours too.

Dr Richard Stallman

President, Free Software Foundation

• Does the “source close to Johnson” who thinks Boris was defending liberal values also believe that Mark Antony thought Brutus an honourable man?

Susan Newton

Oldham, Lancashire

• It appears that Boris Johnson regularly follows two of President Trump’s principles. First, never apologise (even when you know you are wrong); second, get your name in the media as often as possible (even if you have to do it by expressing insensitive or extreme views).

Alan Bailey

Sandy, Bedfordshire

• Could have been worse. Boris Johnson could have put his views on the side of a bus.

Toby Wood

Peterborough

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