French headscarf ban recommended

ignored_one

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3309885.stm

French headscarf ban recommended Muslim girls in France could be barred from wearing headscarves in schools after an expert commission recommended a ban on "conspicuous" religious signs.
The official commission headed by former minister Bernard Stasi is publishing its findings on issues relating to religion and the state.
French President Jacques Chirac will then have to decide whether to follow the commission's recommendation.
The ban would also include the Jewish skull-cap and large Christian crosses.
Mr Stasi consulted a wide cross-section of public opinion, including teachers, religious leaders, sociologists and politicians before handing in the report to the president on Thursday.
Secularism is the separation of church and state, but it is also the respect of differences
Bernard Stasi
The ban would outlaw the Jewish kippa, large Christian crosses and the Islamic headscarf, which would be considered overt religious symbols.
"Discreet" medallions and pendants which merely confirm the person's religious faith would be allowed.
"Secularism is the separation of church and state, but it is also the respect of differences," Mr Stasi told a news conference on Thursday.
He added that the commission's proposed law was intended so people of all religions could "live together in public places".
Public holidays
The report also recommended that Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement - and Eid al-Fitr - the Muslim day marking the end of Ramadan - be celebrated in state schools.
French public life has a strong secular tradition which has existed since the revolution, but the commission has now recommended that the plan be enshrined in law.
HAVE YOUR SAY Wearing a headscarf should be looked at as a personal freedom, not as a sign of fundamentalism
Fatina Halawani, Jordan Mr Chirac, who is expected to address the nation next week with his own conclusions, has hinted that he could back a formal ban.
Last week he said France felt "in a certain way under attack as result of the display of ostentatious religious signs, which is totally contrary to its secular tradition".
He added: "We cannot accept ostentatious signs of religious proselytism, whatever the religion."
The issue has led to a number of celebrated cases where girls have been suspended or expelled for wearing headscarves to school.
Other schools do not act against pupils who come to class wearing headscarves.
Integration
France has the largest Muslim population in the European Union, with around five million people.
The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says the Islamic headscarf has become the focal point of an agonised national debate in France.
She said it reflects many of the nation's unspoken fears about its failure to fully integrate its Muslim immigrants or to give them a purely French cultural identity.
France's chief rabbi, Joseph Sitruk, has joined Christian churches in arguing against a ban.
"What an aberration it is to want to muzzle religion in the name of secularism," he said in a newspaper interview.
Some Muslims are also opposed to the wearing of headscarves, while others believe the debate has more to do with French concern over its growing Muslim population.
Two German states have begun moves to ban headscarves in schools, after a recent court ruling that current law meant women were free to wear them if they chose.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/europe/3309885.stm

Published: 2003/12/11 11:50:26 GMT

© BBC MMIII

-

Ignored One.

czarofmischief

Fear of change and racism...

Ridiculous. People should be free to wear and display whatever religious symbols they want. That's why secularism is in charge - to be impartial.

CZAR

Fascinating. IN the USA we had a big court battle in one state where a Muslim woman insisted that she be allowed to wear her head scarf for her driver's license photo. The authorities said no, because driving is not a right in the USA, but a regulated privelege, and her ID needed to show her uncovered head and face. She lost the battle. Not long after that, the ten commandments were taken from the court house in the big Alabama Supreme Court fight. Who knows where this will lead ... maybe ... the Great Tribulation? As Satan's governments turn on religion? Ahhh ... run back to the Watchtower.

simplesally

Amazing, I remember the one about the woman who wanted to wear not a scarf, but the burka, or shroud, the one that covered her whole face and head. I don't even know if her eyes would have been visible. In light of all the terrorism fears, I can see why they did not allow it.

Even so, with ID theft, credit card fraud, etc......who knows who would really be using that ID if it just pictured a shrouded woman. That could have meant that 100 women could use the same driver's license, get on a plane with that id, cash checks, etc...... ID is meant for a reason and I see no religious interolerance in that case!

waiting

Not long after that, the ten commandments were taken from the court house in the big Alabama Supreme Court fight. Who knows where this will lead ... maybe ... the Great Tribulation? As Satan's governments turn on religion? Ahhh ... run back to the Watchtower. -amazing

smirk.

Euphemism

He added: "We cannot accept ostentatious signs of religious proselytism, whatever the religion."

How does wearing a scarf constitute proselytism?

If Chirac approves this rule, I hope the ECHR whips his ass.

ignored_one

Would this mean that the JWs wouldn't be able to wear their lapel cards.

-

Ignored One.

blondie

Will that mean that nuns and priests will be required to wear street clothes?

Sassy

If this type of idea spread to other countries.. there are other religions that could be affected.. jews, amish, mennonites... to name a few

stillajwexelder

I seem to remember about 20 years ago in Britain there was an outcry when a Sikh was ordered in a court of law to remove his turban and wear a motorcycle crash helmet. Any British/other people remember this case? I can not remember the outcome and if there was an appeal or if taken to Europe. Also in Florida there was a case of a Muslim woman having to show her face on her drivers license. It will be interesting to see which way this goes -- becasue IMHO all these cases are connected

French headscarf ban recommended

Share this