French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke out strongly today to lawmakers about banning Muslim women from wearing burqas or niqab in France.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/22/sarkozy-burqas-are-not-we_n_218920.html
I agree with the President’s sentiments that the burqa is demeaning and degrading to women. However, I don’t know that such a grand public denouncement and forceful legislative action are the most effective means for addressing this issue. I know many Muslim women wear a headscarf as a choice and feel empowered by it. (I doubt that attitudes toward the burqa are as liberating.) I did not agree with the ban of religious clothing (Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps, Christian crosses) from public school in 2004. Admittedly, I am not an expert or eyewitness of French secular culture and values. I also don’t follow many blogs, so I don’t know what others are saying about this. Anyone have an opinion or additional insight to this issue?
Response to Sarkozy sarcrazy?
It seems like a harsh statement. It should be the rights of the individuals to wear what they feel is appropriate. The burqa seems to be a symbol of oppression, but I am sure that is not always the case. It does seem like a slippery slope. Who should define what is appropriate or not, especially when things are done in the name of faith?
I agree. Seems like something difficult to enforce. What’s a burqa-wearing woman to do if she must wear the burqa for her beliefs (and to please family or husband). Is a woman who wears a burqa even free to remove it if told to by the government? So how would they enforce it? Would the woman be punished in some way? Of course, the feminist in me can’t imagine the burqa being anything other than a symbol of debasement–I just don’t think it’s something a government can regulate.
You bring up something I hadn’t even thought of but may be the most important issue…this type of legislation targets women who are already victims. Really, what would the punishment be? A fine? Arrest? Certainly women who wear burqas face immense pressure to do so from their family and religious community. To shame women (by forcing them not to comply with the modesty rules of their community) is not right. Wait? Am I really advocating for women to wear the burqa? No. It may be semantics, but I guess I’m against compelling them against their (?) will not to wear it.
Washington Post has asked some panel members to comment on burqas in the US. A few give some insight into the French secularist mindset I wondered about.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/2009/06/the_burqa_in_america/all.html
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