France considers ban on Muslim veil in public domain
Elisa M. Valbuena-Pfau
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: World
"There is nothing in Quran that directs women to cover their faces," said Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, who runs the Islamic center in Drancy, a Paris suburb.
"The French culture is a proud one and it is not surprising that they view the veil as an attack on their culture in some ways," said Assistant Professor of Political Science Robert Duncan. "The French would rather have Muslims become more Francophone than embrace their traditional customs. The French probably see this as a slap in the face to their culture."
The proposed ban has become a highly contentious issue, garnering heavy criticism from many Muslims, Arabs, and Westerners alike.
"I think the banning of the veil is an act of racism and Islamophobia," said Assistant Professor of English Diya Abdo.
"I feel that, generally speaking, if someone were to be banned from expressing their religious beliefs and living out their identity as they see it, then that could not contribute to their feelings of integration into the society in which they live, but would rather alienate. Integration surely should not mean 'sameness.'"
Duncan, on the other hand, took a different view on the proposed ban, valuing it as a form of defense against threats to France's national security.
"The French government has a right to restrict the practice of that religion if it endangers the safety of their citizens," he said. "Frankly, I don't see the problem with a headscarf but one could potentially use the burqa for smuggling weapons, and if women refused to allow a search, that could become a security issue. Moderate Muslims who seek integration into French culture will go with this ban, should it pass. But if this ban does pass, then the issue probably won't be settled peaceably and conservative Muslims will most likely be deported."
Aside from being difficult to enforce, perhaps the largest contention against the proposed ban made by other critics, including Abdo, is the light it throws on France's stance as a democratic nation.
"If it inhibits people's freedom of expressing themselves, their religious and cultural identities, is necessarily an affront to democracy," said Abdo. "Especially when such a democracy does not ask the same of practitioners of other religious beliefs who wear or display their religiosity in different physical manifestations - such as wearing a cross, yarmulke, a nun's habit, or any other form of religious dress."
"The French culture is a proud one and it is not surprising that they view the veil as an attack on their culture in some ways," said Assistant Professor of Political Science Robert Duncan. "The French would rather have Muslims become more Francophone than embrace their traditional customs. The French probably see this as a slap in the face to their culture."
The proposed ban has become a highly contentious issue, garnering heavy criticism from many Muslims, Arabs, and Westerners alike.
"I think the banning of the veil is an act of racism and Islamophobia," said Assistant Professor of English Diya Abdo.
"I feel that, generally speaking, if someone were to be banned from expressing their religious beliefs and living out their identity as they see it, then that could not contribute to their feelings of integration into the society in which they live, but would rather alienate. Integration surely should not mean 'sameness.'"
Duncan, on the other hand, took a different view on the proposed ban, valuing it as a form of defense against threats to France's national security.
"The French government has a right to restrict the practice of that religion if it endangers the safety of their citizens," he said. "Frankly, I don't see the problem with a headscarf but one could potentially use the burqa for smuggling weapons, and if women refused to allow a search, that could become a security issue. Moderate Muslims who seek integration into French culture will go with this ban, should it pass. But if this ban does pass, then the issue probably won't be settled peaceably and conservative Muslims will most likely be deported."
Aside from being difficult to enforce, perhaps the largest contention against the proposed ban made by other critics, including Abdo, is the light it throws on France's stance as a democratic nation.
"If it inhibits people's freedom of expressing themselves, their religious and cultural identities, is necessarily an affront to democracy," said Abdo. "Especially when such a democracy does not ask the same of practitioners of other religious beliefs who wear or display their religiosity in different physical manifestations - such as wearing a cross, yarmulke, a nun's habit, or any other form of religious dress."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
R Quance
posted 2/07/10 @ 9:15 PM EST
What many forget is that concealing your identity with a mask or other means is generally considered you are hiding something bad whether it is your face or your sexual gender or maybe something much worse. (Continued…)
Corey Nelson
posted 2/08/10 @ 6:57 PM EST
Actually, a democracy by definition has an extreme tendency to be tyrannical. A republic (such as the USA) is different from a democracy in that it guarantees certain fundamental and inalienable rights. (Continued…)
stelazai
posted 4/08/10 @ 11:43 AM EST
Yes i agree with you , and nice news thanks. This realy nice news , i watch for them .
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