I think that people should abide by the customs and conventions of the country they are in. If I was in a muslim country, I would expect to abide by their expectations and I think that they should do so in this country.

Like you, I find veils alienating, but mostly I feel that they are symbols of repression - I find it difficult to understand why any person, given a free choice, would choose to wear one. Even if some women do genuinely chose to wear them, this still reinforces the pressure on those who are given no choice.

You could argue that wearing a hoodie is a demonstration of freedom and independence, but that doesn't mean that people should be allowed to wear them (at least to cover up their faces.)