when I was a kid my math teacher who was from Yugoslavia related a story
from his teenage years (which would probably have been in the 50s)
he lifted a girls veil to have a look at her and the men that accompanied her - pulled out swords and chased him down the street
he was sure they would have killed him if they caught him. I dont think he was fully aware just how serious his actions were. ..

on another note, here in Canada since the early 90s police officers who are of the Sikh religion are by constitutional law allowed to wear turbans and Im ok with that. NOw one could apply the same to Muslim Women police officers who wish to wear a veil. I would definitely not be ok with that.

(sometimes ones right may conflict with someone elses - such as when
a cabdrivers convention was held in a Legion hall - the Legion hall requires all those who enter to remove headgear - which of course conflicted with the (mostly) Sikh attendees obligation to wear a turban) - the law came down on the side of the SIkhs .

similarly - all Sikhs are required by religion to carry a sword - often it is just a small ceremonial sword but there was an issue of whether such weapons may be banned from schools - and in Canada
the Supreme court ruled that they cannot be banned.
NOt sure how this works in a courtroom - where weapons are not allowed)

- finally, what about the people in Japan and other parts of Asia who wear surgical masks, so they dont infect others when they have a cold.
(when I went to Japan I thought there must be a lot of doctors around!) but talking to someone with a mask on is not too different
than a veil.
Petr