France's burqa ban wrong
France's proposed veil ban goes too far
The following editorial appeared in the Seattle Times on Monday, April 26:
French officials have gone too far by proposing a complete ban on full Islamic veils in all public places.
The ban would prohibit Muslim women from wearing the burqa, a full head-to-toe veil with mesh over the eyes, and the niqab, which le
aves slits open for the eyes.
Even tourists would be forced to remove veils when visiting France.
France has Western Europe's largest Islamic population, with about 5 million Muslims. Around 2,000 women wear a full veil.
Currently, secular law calls for a ban only in places that might hinder work performance, such as schools and certain businesses.
The country's top official for family planning calls women wearing burqas in France an "invasion" and claims banning the veil will send an important message to women on a global scale. When women are fighting for their rights and dignity in Afghanistan, how can France continue accepting the very thing they are fighting against?
In actuality, this ban would send a very different international message, one of growing Islamophobia in France.
Supporters of the proposal believe the veil signifies gender inequality, despite Muslim women coming forward last year and openly stating they wear veils by their own choice, not by force of Islamic law or their husbands and families.
In addition, the European Court of Human Rights could very well challenge the law as an infringement upon freedom of religion.
Not only would this ban be pointless, because of the small number of Muslim women who actually wear a full veil and the fact that it is likely to be challenged by French courts. It infringes on individual rights.
Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/04/27/1232545/frances-proposed-veil-ban-goes.html#ixzz0mPE88BK6
France's proposed veil ban goes too far
The following editorial appeared in the Seattle Times on Monday, April 26:
French officials have gone too far by proposing a complete ban on full Islamic veils in all public places.
The ban would prohibit Muslim women from wearing the burqa, a full head-to-toe veil with mesh over the eyes, and the niqab, which le
aves slits open for the eyes.Even tourists would be forced to remove veils when visiting France.
France has Western Europe's largest Islamic population, with about 5 million Muslims. Around 2,000 women wear a full veil.
Currently, secular law calls for a ban only in places that might hinder work performance, such as schools and certain businesses.
The country's top official for family planning calls women wearing burqas in France an "invasion" and claims banning the veil will send an important message to women on a global scale. When women are fighting for their rights and dignity in Afghanistan, how can France continue accepting the very thing they are fighting against?
In actuality, this ban would send a very different international message, one of growing Islamophobia in France.
Supporters of the proposal believe the veil signifies gender inequality, despite Muslim women coming forward last year and openly stating they wear veils by their own choice, not by force of Islamic law or their husbands and families.
In addition, the European Court of Human Rights could very well challenge the law as an infringement upon freedom of religion.
Not only would this ban be pointless, because of the small number of Muslim women who actually wear a full veil and the fact that it is likely to be challenged by French courts. It infringes on individual rights.
Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/04/27/1232545/frances-proposed-veil-ban-goes.html#ixzz0mPE88BK6
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