Chirac stokes Muslim veil debate

Reuters/Swissinfo.org ^ | 12/04/03 | Sophie Louet

[veronica]

President Jacques Chirac has denounced Muslim headscarves on schoolgirls as offensive and expressed concern about Islamic fundamentalism as momentum builds up in France to bar all religious symbols from public schools.

Speaking on a visit to Tunisia on Friday, Chirac said the strictly secular French state could not let pupils wear what he called "ostentatious signs of religious proselytism" and saw "something aggressive" in the wearing of traditional Muslim veils.

Chirac's comments to pupils at the French lycee in Tunis sharpened the shrill headscarf debate in France, which has seen diffuse popular concerns about Islam, women's rights and Muslim immigration develop into a broad movement to ban the veil.

More than 60 prominent French women, including actresses Isabelle Adjani and Emmanuelle Beart and designer Sonia Rykiel, issued a petition on Friday, urging a ban on "this visible symbol of the submission of women".

"We cannot accept ostentatious signs of religious proselytism, whatever they are and whatever the religion," said Chirac, who is due to receive a special report on enforcing secularism next week in preparation for a possible ban.

"In our public schools, a veil has something aggressive about it which presents a problem of principle, even if only a small minority wears it."

Critics say banning a bit of cloth ignores the root cause of problem, the failure to integrate France's five million Muslims -- mostly of North African origin -- into French society.

Muslim women and girls argue that banning them would infringe on their freedom of religion.

Only a handful of schools have expelled girls for insisting on wearing veils, but polls show a majority of voters favour a ban and parliamentarians are ready to pass one into law.

Referring to Islamic fundamentalists, who many anti-veil activists say pressure girls into covering their heads, Chirac also spoke out against "certain schools of Islam that are not compatible with secularism".

He said all religions had known in their history "times when suddenly there is a deviation or drift that leads to excesses that stoke useless fights and totally oppose the essence of religion, which is love and respect for others".

Chirac stressed he had no dispute with the large majority of French Muslims, many of whom are born in France and have full French citizenship, and admitted that Paris had to do more to ensure they are better integrated into French society.

Political momentum against the veil picked up on Thursday when 30 parliamentarians came out in favour of an even more explicit ban than Chirac hinted at, substituting the word "visible" for the more debatable term "ostentatious".

Reuters

[Mr. Mojo]

"ostentatious signs of religious proselytism" and saw "something aggressive"

They should've thought about that before they opened their doors to the whole of Algeria.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

All the the things Muslims are doing in France and the government decides to pick on schoolgirls. For being modest. Go fig.

[frodolives]

If they're "good" islamic women, why are they in school?

[WackyKat]

France needs another Charles Martel

[tet68]

"Take that!", said Jacques, striking the tar baby.

[elli1]

Banning the scarf in public school as a way to promote integration?

Seems to me that will only fuel enrollment in religous schools and further segregate them.

No head scarves, then no cross jewelry, eh? Sounds like something the Soviet Union tried.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Face and head scarves can be used to hide identity and full body suits can cover belt bombs...

They should be outlawed in public buildings and facilities.

Wear them at church, at home or at private residences... but these folks are known to USE their "costumes" to hide things. Things they use to kill others.

You cannot hide a belt bomb in a tiny "cross" earring or necklace. A small cross cannot even be used as a cutting tool. But a muslim "hiding my beltbomb, boxcutter and identity so I can kill jews and protestants" hijab or head scarf... SHOULD have been deemed a security threat a LONG time ago. Of course if "open carry" were the law in France...

[tkathy]

The best thing in the world for these poor brain washed children is to ban those awful headscarves.

[usafsk]

How open-minded of you. I'm always amazed by the number of facist lurking in the shadows of FR. Are these "folks" known to do so here? Did the 9/11 hijackers wear concealing clothing? What other "group attire" offends you?

[Mr. Jeeves]

Assimilate or be expelled.

Resist expulsion, and be killed.

This was the default immigration policy for most of the world prior to the age of political correctness. The nations that return to it the quickest will survive the longest.

[alloysteel]

Too late. France is already under Sharia law. Young girls and mature women shall be compelled to carry explosive devices and firearms under their rather voluminous garments, just so they are easily available for enforcement of the directives handed down by the mullahs and ayatollahs.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I once hid a paperback book under a cowboy hat. I wear a black trench coat that I can hide just about anything under when it gets cold or rainy. Should those be banned?

Mind you, what with my beard, when I wear those, my wife calls me "The Marlboro Rabbi."

[Pikamax]

bttt

[Pikamax]

of course after I hit post I am think of something to say.

The problem here is france wants to put on this image of being the secular nation of the world, so they have to force the headscarf away. Muslims on the other hand, want to push against the laws that have been there for decades and are saying "We don't care about your laws, this is what we want and you will bow to our demands"


This is going to be interesting to watch.

[festus]

Much as it pains me to say this ..... At least France is being consistent and honest on the matter. All forms of religious expression are banned.

Whereas in the US all forms of religious expression are tolerated except those of christians which are expressley prohibited.

That said I still would far prefer to live here then with the cheese eating surrender monkeys who have yet to discover deodorant.....

[Robert_Paulson2]

You approve of group attire?
How tolerant of you.

[harriswhistles]

Thanks for posting this frightening story. I can't believe that some in the US think of France as enlightened. Thank God for the US Constitution, if only the Supreme Court would defend it occasionally. If I was a minority in France, I'd be looking for a way out soon. God protect them from this oppression. Look how slowly anti-semitism grew in Nazi Germany, until it was out of control killing millions. Is Fascism alive and well in the "liberated" France?