France Braces for New Law Banning Face-Covering Veils for Muslim Women
- Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:38am by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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TRAPPES, France (AP) — Karima has a plan. If police stop her for wearing a veil over her face, she’ll remove it – then put it back on once they’re out of sight. If that doesn’t work, she’ll stay home, or even leave France.
For Muslim women who cover their faces with veils, it is the moment for making plans. Starting April 11, a new law banning garments that hide the face takes effect. Women who disobey it risk a fine, special classes and a police record.
The law comes as Muslims face what some see as a new jab at their religion: President Nicolas Sarkozy’s party is holding a debate Tuesday on the place of Islamic practices, and Islam itself, in strictly secular but traditionally Catholic France.
The increasing focus on France’s Muslims – who number at least 5 million, the largest such population in western Europe – comes with presidential elections a year away and support for a far-right party growing. A recent palpable rise in tensions has also been boosted by fears of a mass migration of Muslims due to disarray in the Arab world.
Interior Minister Claude Gueant put it bluntly Monday.
“This growth in the number of (Muslims) and a certain number of behaviors cause problems,” he said in remarks carried on French radio. “There is no reason why the nation should accord to one particular religion more rights than religions that were formerly anchored in our country.”
France’s challenge is evident in the Paris suburb of Trappes. It has a large Muslim population and is one of the few towns in France where veiled women are occasionally seen on the streets.
At the town hall, the subject of the impending crackdown is taboo. Some predict police will turn a blind eye to any veils to keep things tranquil.
“I have a choice to take it off. I choose not to,” said Karima, 25, shopping at the outdoor market in this town of 29,000 southwest of Paris.
Karima is forthright, though she refuses to provide her full name because of her defiant stance on the ban. Others are not so willing to talk. Two women veiled in black scurried away when approached.
“The problem of veils and so on become public issues because people are afraid,” said Farhad Khosrokhavar, a noted expert on Islam in France. “It’s a process of scapegoating and it works beautifully.”
The topic of Tuesday‘s roundtable by Sarkozy’s conservative UMP party is officially secularism, a foundational value of France. However, the talks are expected to take up distinctly Muslim social issues like halal food in school cafeterias or demands by some for separate hours for women at public swimming pools.
Its backers say debate is needed to address evolutions in French society – such as a growing demand for mosque building and Islamic butchers – since the country’s 1905 law formally separated the state from the Catholic Church.
Detractors, however, see a sheer political ploy to lure potential voters as Sarkozy’s popularity keeps sinking and the extreme-right National Front is getting a second life under its new leader, Marine Le Pen, the daughter of party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen. While Le Pen’s party performed well in local elections in March, Sarkozy’s party suffered a drubbing.
Muslims have felt stigmatized by the 2004 law banning Islamic headscarves in classrooms and again during the intense debate that preceeded the face veil ban. Muslim leaders are now so irked they have refused any role in the roundtable.
France’s top religious leaders – Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists – published a joint statement last week saying the debate could add “to the confusion in the troubled period we are traversing.”
Sarkozy fired his adviser on integration, Abderrahmane Dahmane, last month for castigating party leader Jean-Francois Cope, who is organizing the talks.
“Cope’s UMP is the plague of Muslims,” Dahmane said in an interview.
Dahmane is a controversial figure who has called on French Muslims to wear a green star Tuesday, similar to the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi occupation. Prominent Jewish figures in France have bristled at the comparison.
Another longstanding UMP member tore up his party card in a rage at the Paris mosque. Abdallah Zekri, a member of the High Council of Mosques of France from the southwestern city of Nimes, says Arabs are being targeted.
“Muslims will always be scapegoats,” he said at a Paris news conference. “We no longer talk about immigrants. We talk about Muslims.”
In unusual terms for a secular leader, Sarkozy extolled the virtues of his country’s “Christian heritage” during a recent visit to Puy-en-Velay, the starting point of a famed medieval Christian pilgrimage route.
“Without identity there is no diversity,” the president said. “The (French) republic is secular. It belongs to each citizen without any distinction.”
Muslim women who choose to cover their faces with veils may doubt that they belong.
The measure banning the veil forbids women to hide their faces in public places, even in the streets. It punishes those who defy the law with a fine of euro150 or a citizenship course of both. Anyone discovered forcing a woman to cover her face risks a year in prison and a euro30,000 fine – doubled if the veiled person is a minor.
Authorities estimate at most 2,000 women in France wear the outlawed garment. But for each of them removing the filmy cloth would be an exceptional act.
“Behind this is spirituality,” said Karima, a doctoral student of history with Algerian-born parents. “This law will keep women at home.”
Khosrokhavar predicts that, despite the ban, the status quo will quietly continue for many women, with local authorities turning a blind eye.
The French “have lots of lofty abstract principles” like secularism, he said. “But when it comes to dealing with it concretely, you cope with it.”
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Comments (165)
JP4JOY
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:28amMaybe we could start a campaign to reveal to the world that only muslim homosexuals are wearing the veils?
I know, not very pc.
Report Post »mill
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:04pmlove it…it could be true…
Report Post »REETZBEE
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:24amI’ve heard that many Muslim women believe that wearing the full burka is their duty to their religion. Maybe there should be help groups where these women need to be radically deprogrammed into believing such garbage. These women are so brain washed from birth it’s no wonder they still want to wear the burka.
Report Post »TheWatcher
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:15amWake America, we must take our nation back! We are moving quickly to a nation that has no identity we are no longer the melting pot of the world we are more like the buffet of the world and we are lossing our ability to keep our nation American.
Report Post »mill
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:59pmUnless we get rid of Obama and his cronies..we are on a collision course to completely fall apart.
Hillary will be outing herself soon and she will be worse than Obama..
I do not believe that I will ever vote for a black person after this experience….it’s like eating too much cocoa…you get sick, throw up and swear off cocoa for life….this one experience is enough.
Michelle will probably show up in a fashionable burka deal any day now. Also, our females soldiers wearing heard scarves is ridiculous.
Report Post »geonj
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:09amFrance gets it. islam is a threat to orthodoxy.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:09amIt took some time but the French finally figured out that immersing people in berets and baguettes won’t rid them of their extremist ways.
If only people in our country would figure out that immigrants need to speak the prevalent language and assimilate into the culture…
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:07amLeave France, but don‘t think you’ll find welcoming arms in the U.S….
Report Post »jose wasabi
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:05amBottom line: Leave!
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amI agree with the law, think they are doing the right thing for their country. Just hope they haven’t waited too long.
Report Post »“A recent palpable rise in tensions has also been boosted by fears of a mass migration of Muslims due to disarray in the Arab world.”
This is something we all need to worry about!! We are at risk here too. We really need to start watching the IRC as well as everything else and see what they are doing. I was not aware of how many people they bring into the US and disperse among us until recently.
http://www.rescue.org/
Rob
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03am“If that doesn’t work, she’ll stay home, or even leave France.”
Can we do something like this with the illegals…?
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:50pmNot as long as the illegals could eventually become a voting block for the left. That is why the left are against any type of battle against illegal immigration and want to give illegals the right to vote.
Report Post »mill
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:52pmthe “tequila party” blends in better here…than muslims.
Report Post »Harry Palm
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amBe ready for the politically correct liberal left to come to the muslims defense…..hell the liberal left in America are fighting for the muslims to build a mosque at ground zero.
As long as you are not white, christain or jewish you will have an ally in the liberal left…..more so if you hate america and conservatism.
Report Post »mutslie
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amHooray for the ‘frogs (French) telling them ‘hairybacked moose’lem shiela’s to get it off, they frieghten ‘the grandkids too,
Report Post »‘ why do we put up with such rubbish in the name of religion?,send all the bedouin back to the deserts where they belong, I’ve seen them driveing a car wearing the hejab how can they see whats on the left & right, ok if ya driveing a camel I suppose,’bet they dont shave under the armpits either……..’hmmmmm just a thought.
jim
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amGood for France in defining its own parameters for common decency… and not allowing an outside belligerent organization (Islam) to dictate the course of French culture and politics.
Report Post »emzieg
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:59amIs it imperative that their faces be covered? In the real world this is a security issue…
Report Post »ares338
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:59amWell, well, the French Government finally did something smart.
Report Post »sweetnsalty
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:57amGood for France seems like they are finally growing some balls.
Report Post »singray
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:53amAnd I thought the French always surrendered. At least that is what I was told. The French are standing up for their principles while our Leader bows before the World.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:19amNapoleon had a nice little run you may remember.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:52amKeep the bag on her head…….
Report Post »cycloid
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:51amVeil out. Bags of paper, plastic and duct tape – in.
Report Post »singray
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:50amI never thought in my lifetime I’d see the French with more Ba$$s to confront issues than my own Country. Who woulda thought.
Report Post »CaptGregg
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:21amIt was the French that led the west’s move against Gadafi, and is leading the fight against the Muslim invasion of France. Maybe we’re seeing a reincarnation of the French bravery that became nearly extinct after WWI, and died with Charles deGaulle.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:47amIslam is a counterfeit religion invented hundreds of years after Judaism and Christianity. It is evil and leads to more evil.
Just watch the violence and killings that result from this (I think) reasonable law.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:57amViolence and killings are guaranteed.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:47amWould the veil-less Muslim women gain some freedom for themselves if they all went without a veil – its the men that are making them wear the veil in the first place. The women wear the vail to protect themselves from their husbands beating them if they don’t wear it. Perhaps if they all decided they would not…just thinking out loud here…
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:28amThat’s why the fines are steeper for those who force someone to wear a veil. They are trying to change the male dominated subjegation of women…and releave the fears of non-muslims.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:18pmteachermitch32
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:28am
That’s why the fines are steeper for those who force someone to wear a veil. They are trying to change the male dominated subjegation of women…and releave the fears of non-muslims.
I don‘t feel like we need to keep referring to anyone who doesn’t bow to the Muslims as afraid of them. There are very sound reasons for distrust in the Muslim community (as in that some of them are crazy and like to kill people). If their women need to be treated differently than everyone else then they should stop trying to force everyone else to comply with their religion and remain in a region that accepts that . If I get frisked at the airport then they should get frisked at the airport. If I need to provide a clear photo of my face for a license then they need to comply with the same standard. It isn’t fear that compels me to this, but common sense.
Report Post »eat-more-bacon-USA
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:45amMuslim-women wear terror-hoods to hide their ugly, hairy faces – The newly revealed muslim women are not going to be good for France’s image – or tourism.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:47amA little Edge gel and a few Mach 3′s will fix that problem right up.
Report Post »hey ohms
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:00amhides brusies too
Report Post »Grady Curve
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:18pmNair for that just shaved feeling..or maybe raid for those problem muslims
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:43amLeave….now that is a plan a Frenchman can embrace.
Report Post »MJaneO
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:43amForget about France–they let them into their country—AND WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING..
Report Post »WAKE-UP CONGRESS AND HOLLYWOOD/MEDIA !
powhatan
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:41amSo leave France..duh…They look like the sand people from Star Wars..
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:53am“she’ll stay home, or even leave France.” That’s the way it should be; assimilate or leave. Maybe they should focus more on fixing their own countries rather than trying to change another. That goes for all cultures.
Report Post »nacilbuper
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:59amThe “peaceful” Muslims will show their true colors…
Report Post »SomethingsGottaGive
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amWow. Finally someone is standing up to the Muslims who try to take over and force their ways onto the rest of the country. It‘s a shame our government can’t have the balls to do the same.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:03amUS proposes Triple Bags for all DEMOCRAT women.
Start with Frances Skunk Piven, Rosie O’Donnell, Helen Thomas,
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:07amRemove the Veil and teach them how to do the Can-can dance.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:09amTEXASCOMMONSENSE
Report Post »Posted on April 5, 2011 at 10:53am
“she’ll stay home, or even leave France.” That’s the way it should be; assimilate or leave. Maybe they should focus more on fixing their own countries rather than trying to change another. That goes for all cultures.
______________
Now that’s what I call commonsense .
1952
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:12amI never thought I would say this, but …. the French have more balls than most nations who are tired of being overrun by mooslums. We should follow their lead.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:38am@POWHATAN
If they start leaving … I predict a LOT of these laws thoughout the CIVILIZED World.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:50am1952,
Report Post »I was thinking the same thing. It is a crying shame that the US bows to Muslims and France is leading the way in making them assimilate into their culture.
1chancey1
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:53amThis sounds like an excuse for radical muslims to start killing people….again.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:00pmJust like the ones here in America that wanted their Driver’s Licenses picture with the habib!! BS to PC! For the past couple of weeks I have been growing to like France every day…….Sarkozy’s speech on Multiculturalism has failed, first to attack Libya and now I hear they have succeeded in the Ivory coast!!! WTH is going on in the world today??? France has cajones and we have a manchurian candidate?
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 12:59pmWhy don’t they just grow a pair, ban the book of hate created as a weapon against Christianity, know as the Koran, and deport anyone for conspiring to overthrow the government that pledges their allegiance to the government without borders know as Islam?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:04pmThat‘s what happens when you have a religion that’s also a political party and a nanny.
Report Post »What do Muslims wear at night? I wonder if they get run over a lot for wearing black?
Can’t they jazz up their veils and robes with reflective stickers or stripes? Make it a little more fashionable.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:07pmI wish the US would make more immigrants assimilate. Like having a national language of English. No more thick books printed in three or more languages, no more having to be told to press a button for each language.
Report Post »Used to be that immigrants wanted to become Americans, now they just want to come here and take advantage of our freedoms and be themselves.
copper
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:11pmGo back to the sand dunes and the 7th century if you don’t want to be part of society.
Perfect example of women who get so used to abuse they can’t live without it.
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 1:54pmCopper, absolutely.
Texascommonsense- I could not have said it better.
I hope the USA follows this lead.. I just hope it doesn’t take us as long as it has France. They may be too late.
Report Post »Tresse
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 2:47pmStay at home or leave France, sounds better every time I hear it.
Report Post »DrFrost
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 2:51pmFrance did something politically that I can actually agree with. Wow….
Report Post »GUT_CHECK
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:17pmhmm, but our U.S. cant even adopt english as the national language.
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 3:41pm“If that doesn’t work, she’ll stay home, or even leave France.”
Duh… I think that is the message. Go back to a muslim country.. the FREE WORLD doesn’t want you.
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:06pmI think these people are the inspiration for the Star Wars sand people.
Just picture it…ambushing people in the desert, kidnapping, running around waving weapons above their heads, shouting incoherent jibberish…
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 4:25pmlol…they ARE the sand people from star wars….
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 6:08pmkarima..they will even give you bus fare…. http://thereligionofpeace.com
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 7:58pmDR_FUNK… good analogy with the sand people. George Lucas must have taken sand people suicide bombings out of the script.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on April 5, 2011 at 11:00pmIt‘s a ’security’ issue also. I mean the male ‘swishy’ terrorists love dressing up like women. they need the veil to ‘hide’ the beards….If these people don’t like French law. Leave and go back to the ‘camel’ pits.
Report Post »sbleve
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:11amIt is a law, to many Muslims, that it must be worn.
Sharia Law – the in-road to western civilization law. The two are not compatible. There is no compromise that allows co-existence. One side will win and the other side becomes irrelevant.
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