FURTHER to the recent exchange of letters between ML Grey and J Flynn on the subject of wearing burkas as part of everyday ‘dress’, let’s get this straight – a religious requirement? I think not?

Reading the Holy Koran, The Light, I quote, … “And say to the believing women, that they cast down their eyes and guard their private parts, and reveal not their adornment save such as is outward; and let them cast their veils over their bosoms and not reveal their adornment save to their husbands…” I do not see anything there about full coverage, burkas etc.

Might I venture to suggest this is a cultural thing.

Now, over the years, I have had the privilege of travelling extensively throughout the world and to the most far-flung places.

In each I and my wife have been obliged to adopt the local ‘cultural’ dress code.

In most cases, out of respect, in some by custom and others as dictated to by local law.

In one place, the local police respectfully reminded me ‘no shorts’ or I would be arrested.

In Pakistan, I became the notional uncle to two European nurses (fully covered), for in that area, unmarried women were not allowed out unless accompanied by an older male relative. And in one small town in America (the Bible belt) was told no shorts or open shirts on Sunday.

Whether this was right or wrong we, the visitors out of respect, always complied.

So what is this with the full coverage?

Now much older (and deafer) I need to see the face of the person I am speaking with to fill in, by expression, the spoken word I have missed. Then try going into a bank with a crash-helmet on, and do we, us males at least, take hats off when entering a church? Always.

Might I suggest when living in another place we all do our best to adopt the local dress code, if not out of need, then out of respect to our host. Further if we adopt another country and carry their passport and national identity, we do it out of respect to our adopted home.

I agree there are times and cases where the preservation of original cultural identity is necessary but as everyday dress, mmm.

Anthony Mealing, Totteridge Road, High Wycombe