Paris – Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, is backing moves to ban the full Islamic veil in France.
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Nicolas Sarkozy last night threw his weight behind moves to ban the full Islamic veil in France, calling for an “unambiguous” parliamentary resolution against an item of clothing he said was “not welcome” in a country which valued sexual equality.
The president, who had shied away from speaking on the issue recently, used his new year’s speech to express his desire for a move against face-covering veils.
But, perhaps to dampen down accusations of stoking anti-Muslim feeling, Sarkozy said any law should avoid stigmatising any sections of society.
In a rebuke to figures in his rightwing UMP party who are pushing for a total ban on the burka or niqab in public in the near future, he said lawmakers should wait for the results of a six-month parliamentary inquiry before acting further.
Once the panel’s recommendations were known, Sarkozy said, parliament should pass a non-binding but “unambiguous” resolution making clear the full veil’s incompatibility with French values.
Sarkozy did not go into detail about what kind of legislation might eventually be passed, insisting that parliament give full attention to it. The committee he set up last summer to investigate the issue, headed by communist MP André Gerin, is expected to advocate a more moderate ban on the full veil, possibly in certain realms of the state such as post offices and town halls. It will publish its results later this month, weeks before France’s regional elections.
“As president I believe it would be wise to wait for its consultations and reflections to come to fruition before deciding definitively,” said Sarkozy.
The parliamentary head of his party, Jean-François Copé, has tried to grab the limelight with a controversial bill that would fine anyone found covering their face in public €750 (£670).
Last night Sarkozy, who has been accused of unleashing a storm of hostile sentiment towards France’s six million Muslims through a “great debate” on national identity, endeavoured to reassure his critics that his dislike of the burka was motivated by love of his nation’s principles rather than racism.
“The full veil is not welcome in France because it runs contrary to our values and contrary to the idea we have of a woman’s dignity,” he said, while cautioning against an extreme move that would further alienate a section of society.
“Let us undertake not to give opponents of democracy, dignity and sexual equality the chance for a victory which would put our society in a very difficult situation,” he said, adding it was “essential that no one felt stigmatised”.
It is thought that only about 2,000 women in France wear the full veil. Although making clear its opposition to the burka itself, the Socialist party came out last week against a ban, saying it would be counter-productive and opportunistic.
is the shtreimel the next one to be banned?
hey guys,
don’t get too excited about this because Yarmulkes may be next ch”v.
you people are insane
theres a difference between a burka which covers are face and a shtrieml
My problem is in the reasoning. They assume that the burqa represents a woman’s sexual inequality. That is dangerous for Yidden. These are religious women following their beliefs. If a compromise of some kind were asked for, or religious leaders consulted on alternatives, it would be OK. However, to say that the country disagrees with their beliefs on modesty as some kind of “sexual inequality”, shows a lack of respect for religion as a whole. We should be very worried about this.
The face veil was a recent invention of the revolution in Iran. Not ever a religious requirement.
Why do people have to be so ignorant. Thats the exact comment of a liberal mind. Streimel and yarlmuka next. How dyu compare a burka wich covers the persons whole body and face to a yarlmuka or a streimel. Exact same thing right?
Please! It is very understandable that they don’t want ppl walking around with hidden faces. It’s a huge security risk.
Sarkozy is brilliant. Not only is he promoting public safety, but he’s also trying to make the Islamists feel uncomfortable. They chose France because France was open and liberal-minded. The French finally figured out that they were fooled.
Sarkozy is sending a clear message to those who come in to take advantage and do harm. Ever read about the “youths” who riot and burn cars all the time? Guess who those “youths” are? The French are finally waking up. Let’s hope that nations all over the world wake up before it’s too late, cv”s.
To all of you guys, this law will never pass, don’t you remember the riots the muslims put up in France when the Mohamed cartoon was in the papers, the goverment will buckle very quickly
no problem there is no shtreimel in france
i will thell you one thing…that aint his wife under that rug.
The tzinius dress of an orthodox muslim woman is entitled to the same respect as the l’vush of yiddeshe women and chassidim…there is no difference. If muslim women want to be extra-modest and cover their faces, we should applaud them rather than making hateful comments.
Where I live there is a short woman (I think) she is a little dumpy, but her/his face is covered and he/she wears glasses. I have lived here quite a few years and have not yet figured out if that one is male or female. Sarkozy does have the right idea!! For all security purposes that person could be a man!!
i understand not wanting faces covered for security purposes, but i do worry that tichels could be next to go…
Is it possible to ban them before they enter france? a pre-emptive banning on the basis that they want to kill everyone who is not muslim.
I think burka’s hide the wearer in a segment of the population prone to terrorism and should be illegal. But his reasoning is anti-religous and should be fought at all costs!
At no point does Mr. Sarkozy say that he wishes to ban the burka for security or safety considerations; if that were the issue he would say so – it would be an easier view to sell. He believes that it is contrary to French values.
Baring that in mind, there is no reason why the kippah or sheitel wouldn’t be next on the list.
I think they should enact a statute to put a bag over the veil.I support the continued use of the veils as a public service. These women are UGLY. Modesty has nothing to do with it.
Mr President Sarkozy did wear the yarmulke everytime he visited a jewish community (he was invited every year for Chanukah by Chabad in Neuilly sur Seine when he was the mayor of this city : suburb of Paris), and there are videos and photos on the internet that shows that…. he’s not against religious clothing, but against extremism and everybody would agree the burqa is far extreme !
His son married a Jewess, so don’t worry yidden, we’re not the next on the list… He has nothing against tichel sheitel yarmulke.