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Latest update: 10/02/2010
- Burqa - crime - France - immigration - National identity debate
Two burqa-clad robbers hold up post office near Paris
Two burqa-wearing robbers stole 4,500 euros from a post office in the suburbs of Paris Saturday. The gun toting thieves hid their handguns beneath the Islamic-style full veils. The French government is currently trying to restrict use of the burqa.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - Two burqa-wearing bank robbers held up a post office near Paris on Saturday, using a handgun concealed beneath an Islamic-style full veil, court officials said.
Staff let the pair through the security double doors of the banking branch of the postal office, believing them to be veil-wearing Muslim women, before they flipped back their head coverings and pulled out a gun, officials said.
They made off with 4,500 euros (6,150 dollars) seized from the staff and customers of the branch in Athis Mons, just south of Paris, according to the online edition of Le Parisien newspaper.
Police have opened an investigation.
France is seeking to restrict use of the head-to-toe Islamic veil on the grounds it is incompatible with French values, after a parliament report called for a ban in schools, hospitals, government offices and public transport.
The leader of President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing party in parliament has already presented a bill to make it illegal for anyone to cover their faces in public on security grounds.
Sarkozy has declared the burqa "not welcome" in secular France and favours legislation to outlaw it, though he has warned against stigmatising Muslims.
According to the interior ministry, only around 1,900 women wear the burqa in France, which is home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority.
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Comments (13)
Seriously people
I cannot stand reading these consipracy theories about how this was an orchestrated move to further justify the burqa ban. That is such a typical muslim reaction/delusion - everything that happens is to screw the muslims over, who are such a peaceful and joyous people. Get over yourselves. No one is forcing muslims to live in the western world. Don't like our ways of life and values? Then go back to your country. Wouldn't it be insane if a westerner tried to implement western values somewhere in the middle east (i.e. wear a bikini at the beach or shorts in the summer-time)? They would get arrested faster than the blink of an eye. Stop the hypocrasy!
a game
Only game played by some peoples to create reason on ban. Also the news on media that only around 2000 women wears compelete viel is fake. It is much more. It is not good to target muslims community. This will not give any benifit, but will create problems
liars
liars
Yay
for yet another excellent reason to ban this horrible practice everywhere in the world.
Its no robbery.
This story of robbery is just a ploy to push the ban on veils. Why should such robbery come at this moment of debate on the ban. Where were the police during the incidence. How are we sure the robbery was not sponsored by politicians or even the government just to achieve their aim. Human right should not be one sided. Lets leave the Muslims alone to exercise their belief.
Burqa Bandits
LOL...LOL...LOL...Here in America you are not allowed to wear a ski mask in public. This law was put in place before 911. Wonder why? Future thieves take note.
Despite all the political correctness, France should stick with the security issue.
I am very happy the theives did not have explosive weight vests under all that fabric-which is why I laughed so hard. Money can be replaced.
Slightly amused in America;>!
Answer to the previous comment
The burqa is contrary to French values because it victimises and isolates women from society. As you said it yourself, it "helps them to protect their life from ill treatment". This is precisely where the problem is. It is not women who should cover up because of pressure and threats, but rather those radical Muslim men who treat them as inferior. They are the ones who must change and learn to respect women as free, equal and independent beings. This is what France is about. France has the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe, so the world would certainly know if there was no freedom of religion there. I would also like to point out that other countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, some German landers, Denmark…) already have or are about to ban the burqa from the public sphere because you can't communicate with someone you can't see. Wearing the burqa is antisocial by definition. This is issue is about women's freedom and France should not allow a growing number of women to be excluded from society, by a garment that forces them to give up their job and stay at home.
Dare to abolish burqa
I dont understand why burqa is against French values. It is really foolish to hit the womens' right to cover their body parts according to the will of their religion. This helps them to protect their life from ill treatment.
I kindly request the moderator of this comment to read "The Holy Qur'an" and study what Islam is and b a Muslim to enter the paradise. Remember that we have got only one chance of life to believe the right one and to do the good deeds.
Thanks a lot for reading this.
Please accept my advice. May peace and blessings of the Almighty be upon u.
Uh-oh!
Maybe they needed some stamps?
I am quite sure these were
I am quite sure these were not Muslim women who committed this crime; however, this is another good reason for the ban.
Burqa robbery
What a surprise this story is - I'm only surprised that someone didn't try this before!!!! Burqa 1 - people nil!!!
The veiling ideology should be banned for security reason!
Such extreme and Dark Age veiling ideology and culture has no place in the modern world, especially with Islamist terrorist's threat! Further, what about the human rights of the majority public, especially children, who feel intimidated by such idelogy and behaviour? Moreover, when is other EU countries going to follow France's presevering and brave example?! In Germany, I feel so sick looking at young children being forced to wear the veil, even at schools, hence being sexualized at such young age and treated as if the father's property! It should be considered child's abuse and slavery since the child is incapable of making a complete free and unmanufactured choice yet!
Just ban it!
Another reason to ban the burqa in France, especially as this is not the first time that thieves wear the burqa to attack a bank. I can't believe this is still allowed in the country of Simone de Beauvoir in the name of freedom of worship. There are things you can't do in the name of religion, Raël and the Church of scientology have been banned, and so should be a garment that stigmatises and isolates women from society!
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