Readers discuss women's rights, the headscarf ban and Iceland's financial woes

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Gender inequality still rife in worldwide politics

The days of women being domestic engineers are long gone. Women are making it big at places usually reserved for men. Quarshie Prince, comment from DW's Facebook page.

Women have totally taken over in the USA. Seriously. They are in most positions that are responsible for hiring others. As such, they covertly hire other women, because men threaten their position. I don't necessarily think this is good for society here, or for the general atmosphere of work. It would be a better situation, however, if the women were as good-looking as those you have in your pictures in this article. I would love working for a woman if they looked like this! Americans are not so lucky, though. Sorry, but a man will think like a man. -- D. Coon, US

German minister says headscarf ban could backfire

I think head scarves in public schools should not be allowed as it interferes with the separation of church and state. It promotes one's religious views and could offend the children and their parents. Public education should be totally non-sectarian to protect everyone's right to a religion-free education. -- Lawrence Kim, US

We all know that there is a tiny minority of Muslims, who wear headscarves and most of those who wear it are automatically excluded from working in public affairs. That's not the real debate. It is the old game of Western governments to distract people from other problems worth discussing: such as abusive clergy and rising unemployment. In Denmark where the burka debate started, only a tiny fraction of the community wear the burka, so lets stop polarizing. Europe needs there migrants. Thus, it is more appropriate to think about how to make them well integrated, faithful and most importantly useful citizen. -- Ben Drif, Malaysia

When a person emigrates to Germany they should be willing to integrate the customs of Germany with their own. Anyone that wants to wear a burka, completely hiding their identity, should be sent back to where they came from. Scarves are another matter; many women around the world wear them, but head-to-toe is way overboard. I would buy shoulder length scarves and would have no problem with those as long as the face was not also hidden. In a more serious vein, fearing a backlash by Muslims is the same as demonstrating fear of them. I am not afraid of anyone and I would never cave in to threats. Right is right. Pass the law without fear and if they don't like it, they are free to leave Europe. -- Donkelly, Ireland

Icelanders protest Icesave repayment plan as bill heads for rejection

If the people vote no in a national referendum Iceland should do nothing. To gain profits people take risks. Risk means a chance of loss. There is no such thing as a "sure" gamble. Let the investors take their losses and move on to the next investment. And, the world will live happily ever after. -- Michael Merritt, US

It should be understood that as well as the money lost directly in Iceland, there is the money put up by the UK and the Netherlands' governments to repay those savers, which means that the UK and the Netherlands are out the money twice over. So if Iceland decides to default, it will be blocked from any IMF bailout and could well be forced to relinquish its cod stocks, until the debt is paid. Icelanders were not at all concerned when Bauger Group, et al, were engaged on a wild spending spree across the EU. Iceland should pay its debts. And chase after Bauger Group and the other Icelandic speculators to recover as money as possible. -- Charles Smyth, Great Britain

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Rob Turner