- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Latest update: 13/07/2010
- Burqa - France - law
French lawmakers pass bill to ban 'burqa' in public spaces
French lawmakers have approved a controversial draft law that would ban face-covering Islamic veils from being worn in public spaces. The bill will now go to the French Senate, which is expected to approve it in September.
French lawmakers have approved a bill to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public spaces, despite abstentions from many socialist and Green Party MPs.
The bill will now go to the French Senate, which is expected to approve it in September.
On the right, the “yes” vote was unanimous. The main opposition Socialist Party (PS) largely abstained, as did the Communist Party, with the exception of André Gerin w
ho was one of the bill’s architects.
Altogether, and despite the abstentions, the bill was approved by 335 votes, out a total of 577 MPs. Only one “no” vote was cast.
The bill is popular with voters in a country that has both a tradition of secularism as well as Europe’s largest Muslim population.
However, critics say the law exploits what is for all practical purposes a non-issue - only about 1,900 women among France's five to six million Muslims wear a veil - in a bid to pander to anti-immigration voters and distract attention from France's economic woes.
Constitutional question marks
But, despite passing comfortably through the National Assembly, issues surrounding the precise definition of “public spaces” and the constitutional consequences of a ban may yet hamper the bill's progress.
Explaining why so many PS MPs abstained, Socialist Senator Bariza Khiari told FRANCE 24 that the French Council of State (an advisory body made up of senior legal figures) had expressed misgivings at the legality of the bill’s definition of “public spaces”.
“Not a single PS member supports the wearing of the full veil - that much is obvious,” she said. “But we cannot actively support a bill that is not respectful of the advice of the Council of State”
Specifically, the Council of State warned that “the partial or complete ban of the full veil in public spaces could be potentially unconstitutional” in terms of attacking freedom of expression or religion.
Hiding the face in a public space
The bill’s initially precise wording has been changed and now refers to garments “that hide the face” rather than the “nikab” or “burqa”.
Under the bill, it would be illegal for anyone to cover their faces in public places like streets, parks, public transport or shops.
Fines of 150 euros will be imposed on those caught wearing the veil once a six month grace period to allow time to educate Muslim women about the ban has elapsed.
Men who force their wives or daughters to cover themselves face stiffer penalties of up to 30,000 euros and a one-year jail term.
Related Content
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
FRANCE 24 PARTNERS
Comments (24)
Equality = Muslim Men wear the Burqa and the Veil
The reasoning put forward by Hezbollah in Lebanon some months ago and Hamas in their current Virtue drive in Gaza align with the Iran clerics claim women not dressing properly cause earthquakes and are responsible for the inappropriate behavior men subject them to including rape.
These statements reinforce the reality the burqa is not a freely worn garment given the clear stigma Muslim women, who do not wear the burqa or even the veil, are subject to in Muslim communities.
If it is such a free choice how is it Muslim men are not covered in a ton of black fabric or cotton veils to cover their masculinity? Are Muslim men not sexual beings?
It is only when Muslim men are compelled to wear the burqa and veils that there will be equality in Islam between men and women, along with changes to divorce settlements. Inheritance and equality under law for the same crimes, and Muslim men can be beaten by women and children as Muslim men have the right to do so to women and children now.
The burqa is as much a political statement as a naked woman walking in the streets to advocate public nudity as a right which should be accepted by the rest of society. One of subservience to men’s dogma not independence.
Nudism is a cultural and political movement advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism.
Society in general has decided public nudism can be very confronting, inappropriate, and even regarded as obscene by some. Although nudism is often practiced in a persons home or garden, either alone or with members of the family public and in restricted venues public nudity is a behavior which society in general have deemed should be restricted and subject to judicial penalty.
The burqa is much more of an obscenity than nudity. For where nudism seeks to expand the societal bounds and diminish prejudice the burqa politically advocates a denigrating, subservient role in society for women.
The burqa reinforces the notion women are not only to blame for men’s behavior towards them in regards sexual assaults but also women’s aspirations should be necessarily be different and subservient to a man’s definition of what a woman’s life should be.
The public wearing of the burqa is a categorical political act which seeks to advance the notion of the acceptance of the subservience and restriction of women’s opportunities in life relative to men which is absolutely obscene and must therefore be subject to judicial penalty.
Everything we do is political. A woman deciding to wear shorts given human history is a political statement in itself. For it can be deemed as simply a relatively freely decided fashion statement. The Burqa is an antitheist of this and very much a political statement of subjugation and in no way can be regarded as a fashion statement or a modern principle. No matter how many times and subtle colorful variations get dragged down the catwalk.
brbrka
Of course the Burka should be banned. If our Women go to an Islamic country they have to abide by that countries dress code.If they do not like our custom of openness they should relocate to a country that suits them and not impose their views upon us.
burqa
wearnig the burqa in France is stupid , i hope the french law will impose the ban
As a New Zealander, I do not
As a New Zealander, I do not respect France's decision. What I have seen is, you French people claiming 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do', you don't stressed on safety reasons. So will you say that to a Jew with the cap? or a Sikh practising man wearing a turban because that's surely not what French people wear? Or Indian ladies wearing Saris? Or Buddhist monks wearing just a large cloth to cover their bodies? Open your eyes, and open your minds. There are other Muslim countries besides the ones in Middle East. Don't be fooled by what is the country's culture and the Islamic rule. Don't judge without first analysing with an objective mind, because it sure makes you look uneducated. For me personally, I have decided I will never take a holiday to France. I am not going to let such an unfair country have any of my money. Think it will be just me? think again.
The veil
Well done France. Felicitations
new draft law for face covering
I hope this passes and will not be overturned by the EU courts.
Well said, Drew. Too bad
Well said, Drew. Too bad Islamophobes and xenophobes seem to be rampant in these parts…
it so good to stop that kind
it so good to stop that kind of culture,because i can remember one day my little brother was crying and running then i ask him why he said that he saw a masquirel approaching him(funny)and i dont know the reason why women makes themselves a such.
Ban Burqa ban burqa
Burqa Museum of Paris..!
The world should follow France, in advancing the humanity to the current century.
The fanatics need to be pulled out of the dark ages.
A gender specific dress code has no place in this century.
France is home to phenomenal museums; how about one more for: Abaya, Babushka, Burqua, Chador, Wimple, and Sheitel.
Imagine how many poor people could be clothed with the fabrics saved from (not) making women’s veil?
Motorcycle Helmets
Steve: Most European countries, including the UK, already ban the wearing of motorcycle helmets in shops and indoor public spaces, just like hoodies and backpacks are banned in many stores in the US.
burqua
I believe it is "merveilleux" for France to ban the burqua. As was said before if in Rome , do as the roman do. I am an emigrant also, but have adopted the rules of this land, and feel that if you do not agree with certain laws, then the option is, return to your own country. Everyone welcome,but please learn the coutume of the coutry as well as the language.
Do any of you yahoo's posting
Do any of you yahoo's posting on this comment thread for a second believe that Muslim women have a choice. Or this is an issue of free choice ?
Tell you what. Lets for a second turn you into a Muslim woman. who doesn't want to wear the veil because you find it stifling and claustrophobic. Lets see how long you last.
The simple fact is they have no choice. They are told what to do, how to act and what to wear. And god help the Muslim woman who wont listen. I can give you real world stories of women who have tried to do what they want. Two are in a mental asylum. A few have been beaten up. By their husbands and fathers.
Wake up world ?
When you go to a Muslim state. Like say Pakistan. Or Afganistan. Lets see how long you last on the streets if your a woman and go out in shorts and a tea shirt.
When we visit Muslim states we are expected to follow their dress code. Why should it be any different when they visit a non Muslim state ?
Notice that men never had to
Notice that men never had to wear the burka.
Burka
I think if women are wearing thong bikinis in France without being accosted, it is safe to show your face.
Well done France! Britain
Well done France! Britain needs to ban it as well.
'Burqa' Ban
I am very proud of France for taking a proactive approach on the issue(s) of mass Islamic immigration and the protection of its (France's) culture.
Hiding the face in a public space
We need to face reality in the society of today where terrorism, robery, kidnapping and asasinations are rampant. Some muslim women who prefer to hidding their faces with their dresses in public space is not for the good interest of the society for SECURITY REASONS. The French government ban on it is absolutely better for them (muslim women) and for the society. Those human right activists and some muslim group should NOT look at it as depriving a sect of muslim people their human rights. Let us look at another perspective of it; hasn't our comon sences tell us that, the situation of today in our society, where the terrorists, the robers, kidnappers and rapists are incesantly attacking the innocent people inrespective of their religious belief, that, they can use this partern of dress in pretence and execute their criminal activities in any place without the vigilant cameras capturing their faces? Yes, to my own opinion, these sect of muslim women can cover other part of their bodies but not their faces. Please let us not religionize all things that will jeopardize the public security. Please let all these muslim husbands, wives and daughters who desier this type of dress to kindly accept the public opinion for security reasons due to the crininal minded people we have in our society today. I can understand your feelings. I have a great respect to muslims and Holy Coran, though, I'm not a muslim.
well done
Well done France!
I'm glad someone has the courage to stand by it's convictions, protect it's heritage and refuse to bow down to the will of Islam. Hopefully my country (England) will follow in your footsteps!
Burka ban
Bravo France. I wish my country had the sense to tell all imigrants- welcome but you live as we do NOT we change to suit you.
Again, well done France! If you live here be French.
burqa
Well done France, nice to see a country doing what the man in the street wants, in this case i think common sense,
Now i hope England will follow !i won't hold my breath.
back to the middle ages
Not all western countries are interested in determining what clothing you can or cannot wear to express your understanding of your religion. In the US, our view is that one is free to practice one's religion so long as it does not interfere with laws written for secular safety and health purposes. For example, we do not make an inquiry into whether the Mormon belief of magical undergarments is reasonable. We do not seek to question whether an Orthodox Jew's beard is an essential part of Judaism. Rather, the state is only interested in that he follow secular health and safety laws. He is free to determine for himself what his religion requires. Other Jews may disagree. The state doesn't care. Likewise, it's not the role of a state to determine whether the burqa serves the objectives of the religion or whether it is a legitimate part of the religion. Further, banning one religion's dress while leaving others be sends a signal to the banned religious practice that the are not welcome and not accepted. It sends further signals that Western values are not compatible with Islam. The Parisian lawyer's comparison of an adult woman's choice to wear a burqa with a the involuntary mutilation of a young girl is horrendous and unbecoming of a lawyer. An adult woman who wear a burqa does so by her own free will. A young girl who is mutilated cannot make such a decision. Blurring that defining characteristic of free choice is either horribly weak logic or intentionally misleading. In a civil society, each individual should be able to choose for his or herself how to practice their own religion so long as it does not harm others without state interference. A Jew wearing a beard or scull cap, a Christian priest wearing a cross or any other outward symbol of religious practice is of no harm to anyone. Pluralistic societies are going to have multiple traditions and religious practices. It isn't the state's role to determine whether it is "legitimate" within that religion. The state's only role in legislating clothing has to be with neutral laws written to achieve secular purposes.
When in Rome
When in Rome, you do as the Romans do. If we go down to the Arab world and their laws compel us to wear a burqa, then it is fine.
France has every right to impose its own laws on its own land. Banning the Burqa is a question of national security and should not be viewed as a ban on religious freedom.
Motorcycle Helmets
As an American motorcyclist whose wife wears a reflective face shield on her full face helmet, I'm wondering how this legislation would effect her, should we ever ride to France ;-).
I predict this law will not meet legal muster.
Burqua
Marvilleux!!!!
Post new comment