Latest update: 22/04/2010
Proposed burqa ban will also be imposed on tourists
One day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy lent his support to a strict public ban on full veils; his government has announced its intention to also impose this law on tourists as well as residents.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - France's government on Thursday announced it would apply a proposed ban on face-covering Islamic veils to visiting tourists as well as residents, even as sceptisim mounted over the legality of the plan.
Junior family minister Nadine Morano said visitors would have to "respect the law" and uncover their faces, prompting critics to speculate whether Saudi luxury shoppers would be forced to unveil themselves on the glitzy Champs-Elysees. "When you arrive in a country you have to respect the laws of that country," Morano said on France Info radio. "If I go to certain countries I'm also forced to respect the law."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday backed a strict public ban of the veil, commonly referred to in France as the burqa, eschewing more moderate proposals that focused on limits in state institutions such as schools and town halls.
The draft bill will be presented to the cabinet next month.
"Why should we accept (the veil) on the bus and not in the town hall?" Morano said. She repeated Sarkozy's line that the veil hurts the dignity of women and equality between the sexes.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Wednesday he was ready to take on a "legal risk" by supporting the ban, which could be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that it violates freedom of religion.
France's highest court has already warned the government that a complete ban could be unlawful.
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Comments (10)
The ban
Great decision, Mr. Sarkozy! I hope other European countries will do the same thing. I think Belgium is on its way to ban burqas in public, too.
I lived in the Middle East for few years and I had to respect their rules and traditions, so I dressed differently. But, when they come to our country, they do not respect our laws and lifestyle. Their main goal is to spread Islam, that is clearly stated in the Koran. Also, what I find interesting, Muslims usually come to Europe in order to find better life and have more freedom, to escape that old-fashioned way of life they had in their country. But then, after a while, they start imposing the same thing they ran away from. How ignorant and disrespectful is that? I mean, they still stone people do death in some Muslim countries! Enough with the 5th century views and traditions. It's time to move forward.
Merci.
Veil Ban
Yea!!! FRANCE. You guys want to trade? You take Obama, we get Sarkozy. :)
Burka
France is quite justified in asking for a ban on Burka. Immigrants can't have the benefits of French liberty and also continue to bring conflicting cultural traits, that are not even fully liked or practiced in most Islamic nations themselves. No one is forced to come to France. All immigrants have a choice to stay back in their own land of birth, if they consider it more imporatnat to wear Burka. Islamic fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic scriptures, is not acceptable for French culture. Great strides in social justice and living standards, of the French Society, that immigrants seek to enjoy, came about because of progressive French thoughts on human rights. Immigrant can always maintain their unique identify, while still respecting and adopting French values.
Interesting
Just a thought. If we're going down this road...
How about banning the Christian crucifixes on jewelery (necklaces, earrings etc) or the Jewish kippa?
Absolutely astounding.
I am not sure...
..if I agree, specially with the commenaries.
As far as I know , just a "good" european woman in my fifties, there is a difference between a Burka= coverimg all the face, just leaving a net for peek trough for the women, who wear it, and a hijab= a headscarf, that covers the hair, falls above the shoulders.
I would not agree in banning the right of wearing a "Hijab" - if my definition is correct.
And to the security matter: What really was unsafe was my health, when I spent several weeks in Luxor, Egypt... watching moe naked flesh of legs (and, sometimes, adjusting bodyparts, walking around the streets in the market-area, the Luxor temple etc...
Not to mention the "dressing" at the breakfast-buffet insome of the hotels.THAT was threating to me: 150 pounds of white flesh in hot-hot-hotpants with my first coffee... To stretch the line of good taste: Ham and eggs got a whole of a different meaning, sometimes. Sorry for the choice of words...
So: Equal rights for everyone.
Either you make the customs of a country, inside the borders of that country, obligatory - or you make the customs of the people a question for the people, no matter, which country they come from or which country they visit.
Or, what I would prefer: Find a middle ground. QUESTION, if the woman with a burqua WANTS to wear it, before you ban it. AND ask the Bikini-Fatties to get dressed in the streets of an islamic country.
And in the breakfast-rooms...
Burqa Ban
I hope every unIslamic country bans the burqa for all reasons stated in France. And especially as it is an excellent disguise for all manner of criminal behaviour.
Veil ban
I also agree with the ban and I do not see why it (maybe) violates freedom of religion when the koran doesn't say anything about the burqa, as far as I have been told... If european girls go to their countries wearing "european" clothes, the muslims call them bad things.. they (some of them) dont respect "our" culture, I dont see why they then criticize the ban when they feel the same thing about the way we dress... So, they know the feeling and they should not complain. I don't mind the normal vail where you can see the face, but the burqa is a bit too much!
I actually got frightened the first time a saw I woman covered like that (I was young at that time and tried to stay as far away as possible because I did not know what it was).
You are still a big believe in Allah even though other people can see your face. As far as I know, being religious is all about what you feel in your heart and how you behave, but not what is on your head...I respect them for doing that, I myself could never do it... But some boundaries do exist.
burqa ban
Good. It is about time the ban is imposed. If they want to do it in their country, that is up to them, but NOT outside of their country!
Outstanding!
France is leading the way! This is excellent.
Veil ban
I absolutely agree with the ban and hope the U.S. will do the same. It is not an issue of choice for the women but rather a matter of security for all nations. Anyone could hide behind these veils (fugitives, thieves). We certainly would not consider it appropriate for people to conduct their daily affairs in ski masks. It is simply a matter of security.
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