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Post by Cambist on Jun 22, 2009 14:18:45 GMT -5
 PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Muslim burqa would not be welcome in France, calling the full-body religious gown a sign of the "debasement" of women. In the first presidential address to parliament in 136 years, Sarkozy faced critics who fear the burqa issue could stigmatize France's Muslims and said he supported banning the garment from being worn in public. "In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said to extended applause at the Chateau of Versailles, southwest of Paris. "The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement _ I want to say it solemnly," he said. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic." Dozens of legislators have called for creating a commission to study a possible ban in France, where there is a small but growing trend of wearing the full-body garment despite a 2004 law forbidding it from being worn in public schools. France has Western Europe's largest Muslim population, an estimated 5 million people, and the 2004 law sparked fierce debate both at home and abroad. Even the French government has been divided over the issue, with Immigration Minister Eric Besson saying a full ban would only "create tensions," while junior minister for human rights Rama Yade said she was open to a ban if it was aimed at protecting women forced to wear the burqa. The terms "burqa" and "niqab" often are used interchangeably in France. The former refers to a full-body covering worn largely in Afghanistan with only a mesh screen over the eyes, whereas the latter is a full-body veil, often in black, with slits for the eyes. A leading French Muslim group, the French Council for the Muslim Religion, has warned against studying the burqa, saying it would "stigmatize" Muslims. Sarkozy was due to host a state dinner Monday with Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani of Qatar, where women wear Islamic head coverings in public _ whether while shopping or driving cars |
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Post by Bunny Hop on Jun 22, 2009 14:24:04 GMT -5
This is a shame....seriously. They do this and what's next? They could attach any "belief" to something and then ban it.
really unfortunate.....
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Post by Cambist on Jun 22, 2009 15:01:19 GMT -5
True...I mean....they could do what we do here and say that burqas can't be worn while driving or while in a bank, gas station, etc.....
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Post by BlackPrincess on Jun 22, 2009 15:01:58 GMT -5
God Bless America!
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Post by 123Diva on Jun 22, 2009 15:13:26 GMT -5
This has been brewing in France for some time now. IT has very little to do with the upliftment of women and LOTS to do with religious/cultural discrimination.
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Post by LejaOMG on Jun 22, 2009 15:23:22 GMT -5
This is a shame. I vaguely remember a situation where a muslim kid in a French public school (can't remember the gender) was made to remove some religious clothing (hat or scarf or something) citing the inappropriateness of making religious statements in state institutions, while a little girl was allowed to wear a conspicuous cross/crucifix pendant around her neck. Who in the eff even lobbied for banning burqas in France? Where is their statement? Where-they-do-that-at?
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Post by 123Diva on Jun 22, 2009 15:32:12 GMT -5
You know, this is why I give people the side-eye when they talk about Europe being so much freer and liberal and accepting of differences. It ain't necessarily so, and in the case of France, it has not been so in a minute. Just cuz they took in a few of our expatriates during tough times here, does not mean they truly stand for liberty, equality, and brotherhood...
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Post by Bunny Hop on Jun 22, 2009 15:36:32 GMT -5
True...I mean....they could do what we do here and say that burqas can't be worn while driving or while in a bank, gas station, etc..... If it has to do with safety I can understand that. You can't walk into a lot of places with hoodies and sun glasses on. But these people are attaching something to this attire that doesnt' have anything to do with safety and isn't true for everyone and then forcing them to all abide by it. If these women were getting attacked hundreds by the day then I could understand that too but that does not seem to be what's going on here. |
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Post by Cambist on Jun 22, 2009 20:45:23 GMT -5
I agree 100 percent that this has nothing to do with France's attempt to champion Muslim women. That's a really bad cover, France.
But we had a case here in the U.S. where a woman wanted to take her Drivers License photo wearing her Burqa.
What say you?
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Post by Bunny Hop on Jun 22, 2009 21:27:43 GMT -5
I agree 100 percent that this has nothing to do with France's attempt to champion Muslim women. That's a really bad cover, France. But we had a case here in the U.S. where a woman wanted to take her Drivers License photo wearing her Burqa. What say you? Well if it's identification then no one can identify her with her face covered... |
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Post by Noble Work on Jun 23, 2009 16:04:30 GMT -5
You know, this is why I give people the side-eye when they talk about Europe being so much freer and liberal and accepting of differences. It ain't necessarily so, and in the case of France, it has not been so in a minute. Just cuz they took in a few of our expatriates during tough times here, does not mean they truly stand for liberty, equality, and brotherhood... ^^^is what I say....EXALT!!! |
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Post by Julie Art on Jun 23, 2009 16:24:15 GMT -5
This is a crying shame. SMH.
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