France May Ban the Burqa
June 19, 2009 by Ashley Scott · 6 Comments
Welcome back. Have you seen the Member's Events Section? It's Free to Join.
According to a French government spokesman, France will study the small, but growing, trend to wear the burqa (or niqāb), with a view to banning the Islamic garment from being worn in public.
Speaking on France-2 television, Luc Chatel said that the government would look to set up a parliamentary commission that could propose legislation aimed at barring Muslem women from wearing the burqa and other fully covering gowns outside the home.
Photo: Ranoush
If the commission finds that the burqa is clearly imposed on women, Mr. Chatel confirmed that legislation banning the wearing of such in public could be considered.
Last week Urban Affairs Minister, Fadela Amara, backed a court’s decision to deny citizenship to a Moroccan woman who wears the burqa. Ms Amara, a French-born muslim of Algerian parentage, said that she supported the ruling given earlier in the month by Franc’es highest administrative court, the Conseil d’État.
She told Le Parisien “The burqa is a prison, it’s a straitjacket. It’s not a religious insignia but a sign of totalitarian political project that advocates inequality between the sexes and is totally devoid of democracy”
“I hope that the ruling might in future dissuade certain fanatics from imposing the burqa on their wives”, she said.
The wearing of burqas is not all that common in France, but women can be seen occasionally wearing them in the streets. The garment has sparked a fierce debate, dividing the centre right government and the Muslim community.
The Imigration Minister, Eric Besson points out that France already bans female civil servants from wearing veils or head-scarves to work, and girls wearing them to school. However, he supports education and dialogue, rather than more legislation, to persuade women from wearing burqas.
Dalil Boubakeur, the head of the Paris Grand Mosque, is also against the burqa. He says that Islam in France must be an open Islam and that there is no need for women to hide behind the veil.
However, France’s main Council for the Muslim Religion is against a parliamentary commission, stating that such an inquiry stigmatizes Muslims and Islam.
So, should a Government be able to legislate against the wearing of such items in public? Or is it a good way to improve social integration?
| Some Topics Of Interest |
| Canon Eos A2e/eos 5 Af 35mm Slr Camera Body/used Hey, check out these auctions: CANON EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 II LENS/EOS 50D/XSI/USEDUS $70.99 (7 Bids) End Date: Thursday Oct-01-2009... What Do You Think Of My Fitness Routine ? I am over weight and want to lose weight, then carry on and become athletic. As well as totally changing my diet I have slowly introduced... Puppy Imprinting The U.S. Military in their canine program developed a method that still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the... Women shoe sizes in Nine West and Kenneth Cole shoes? I'm planning to buy a pair of Kenneth Cole sandals online since I couldn't find one in my size in the stores. I'd like to ask those who... How do I refurbish a footstool handmade by my grandfather? Back when my grandfather was alive he made a footstool. I remember this footstool being my seat of choice when we were visiting (maybe once... |
I really liked your blog. Good grammar, very different from those blogs where written english tends to be the last word they have learned.
Do schools have a policy on student participation in religious instruction and worship ?
Hmmm…I wonder if it would cause an uproar? But as you said, it is not all that common in France anyway.
I think the government should be be able to legislate, but I thought the reason was more for security or identification (for eg. on a driving license) than inequality of sexes, but that is a good point too. Although if that is the reason, then it will be seen more as a stab at their religion and culture than anything else.
I think it is really fair, since they are in another country they should respect the believes of those who are living there. They should adapt to living in france without the burqa.
Thales@How I Met Your Mother Season´s last blog ..Bro’s Code
That girl has very nice eyes. My personal opinion is that people should do what they wish until they don’t beat, kill or steal from other people.