- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Latest update: 19/08/2011
- Burqa - France
French businessman 'to pay all burqa fines'
Rachid Nekkaz (pictured) has set up a million euro fund to pay fines for women who choose to wear the full Islamic veil in countries, like France, where it is against the law to do so in public.
By Tony Todd (text)
A French businessman has set up a fund to pay fines for women who wear Islamic veils or the burqa in public “in whatever country in the world that bans women from doing so”.
Rachid Nekkaz, 38, a real-estate businessman based in Paris, travelled to Belgium on Wednesday to pay 100 euros for two women fined in the first case in the country since the law was adopted there.
“I’m in favour of a law to convict a husband who forces a women to wear the niqab and who forces her to stay at home. But I’m also for a law that lets these women move freely in the streets, because freedom of movement, just like any freedom, is the most fundamental thing in a democracy, ” Nekkaz told reporters outside the courtroom in Belgium.
The same day, he paid a 75 euro fine for a woman in the north-eastern French town of Roubaix.
“I am calling for civil disobedience,” he told FRANCE 24. “I am telling women to not be afraid to go out wearing their veils. And by paying the fines, I am neutering the law, rendering it inefficient and pointless, showing that it doesn’t work. It is a humiliation for the politicians.”
Despite this initiative, Nekkaz disapproves of the veil. “How can a woman truly integrate or find a job if her face is hidden?” he asked.
The strategy
He has taken exception to the law which came into force in France in April 2011, describing it as a strategy for French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his government to win a bigger share of support from far-right voters.
“This law was 100% politically motivated,” he said. “Sarkozy made a gamble. He knew it was not constitutional, but he went ahead and did it anyway. He knows that if the law ever does get knocked down, it will be well after next year’s election, which he needs to win.”
Nekkaz has launched a legal challenge in both France and Belgium that he hopes to take to the European Court of Human Rights.
Nekkaz claims his actions along with efforts from other associations has forced a change in France, where he believes police are now less keen to impose the fines, and are instead taking the women in for questioning.
“They are afraid of issuing fines because they know that I will simply pay them,” he said. “Instead they subject these women to interrogations, asking them who their parents are, whether they work, whether they have been forced to wear the veil by their husbands.”
“It is unacceptable that they are victimising innocent women who are going about their daily lives. They are not targeting the real criminals, the men who do not even let their wives leave the house.”
Nekkaz accused of political opportunism
Nekkaz, who plans to stand as an independent candidate in next year’s French presidential election, has the support of some women's groups who are campaigning against the French law.
But the businessman has been criticised by some associations who accuse him of exploiting the situation for his own political gain.
“Amazones de la Liberté” is a Paris-based women’s association that is campaigning for the law in France to be completely overturned.
Association president Lila Citar says Nekkaz is using the issue to attract media attention ahead of his presidential bid next year.
Her group also objects to him, as a man, trying to champion what Citar says is essentially a feminist cause.
“Wearing a Niqab is a woman’s choice,” she told FRANCE 24. “It is precisely because of the supposed manipulation by men that politicians say they object to women wearing a full veil.
“Nekkaz is trying to manipulate women. He accuses politicians of being opportunistic - but so is he. He is exploiting this issue as a presidential candidate to get attention in the media.”
Related Content
Latest news reports on FRANCE, French politics and culture
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
FRANCE 24 PARTNERS
Comments (45)
thanks for to pay all burqa fines
my dear Rachid Nekkaz thank you to pay all burqa fines, i think god must be help you at world & after dai
Yay for Justice
This is great news. The French need to realise that a person is not a threat just because they are decently covered - arent nuns covered head to toe? and what about people who wear gas masks? perhaps these women should wear gas masks instead of the black veil, and achieve the same thing without incurring any fines. but then the vindictive govt. would have to ban the masks. if a woman whose face is covered is a threat, are you saying that a person with their face uncovered cannot possibly have a bomb on them? what a naive and illogical argument.
my mssg to these women - dont get mad, get smart. if they ban the hijab, wear hats; if they ban the veil, wear gas masks. lets see how far the govt will go to punish you for your right to wear what you wish, and in so doing reveal its ugly racist face to the whole world.
A worldwide issue!!
I concur with the posts on 24/08/2011 - 11:16 & 21/08/2011 - 17:09 Ruel Lanier. A large number of immigrants, especially Muslims, disrespect & mock the laws of their adoptive countries & seek to change them, wherever possible. It never ceases to amaze me how desperate they are to leave their own countries, only to make moves to convert their adoptive country into one similar to that of their own!. So, why not stay put & save themselves the dramas that come along with re-locating. I've been warned by an Islamic follower that "unless I believe in Allah", I'll be dealt with severely on "judgement day" - well, they talk about human rights, but it seems I don't have the right of "freedom of choice" without condemnation! That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think!
As far as Mr Rachid Nekkaz is concerned - he has his own Political Agendas, however, is also Muslim (according to the website - The Beauty of Islam), so he's not really "sticking his neck out" in support of Muslim woman. In addition to that, he's making a mockery of the Laws of a country where he's planning to stand as an independent candidate in next year’s French presidential election. I'm damn sure I wouldn't be voting for someone who holds little respect for the Laws of their birth country!! Maybe he should consider moving to Algeria, where he may feel more comfortable with the lifestyle!!
Politically motivated either way, regarding the "Burqa Law"
I don't believe anyone should be allowed to wear the full-faced Burqa in a foreign country. What they do in their own country is their own choice, but where there are rules indicating that a motor-cyclist can't enter a service centre with a helmet that includes a full-faced visor, can't have a photo licence taken with a smile or wearing a hairband etc; it seems there are rules for one & rules for another! How would we know who we're looking at! It could be anyone behind that veil & in the currant climate it is certainly NOT wise to allow it!! To ALL POLITICIANS >>>>>>>>>> wake up for God sake!!!!
Politically motivated either way, regarding the "Burqa Law"
I don't believe anyone should be allowed to wear the full-faced Burqa in a foreign country. What they do in their own country is their own choice, but where there are rules indicating that a motor-cyclist can't enter a service centre with a helmet that includes a full-faced visor, can't have a photo licence taken with a smile or wearing a hairband etc; it seems there are rules for one & rules for another! How would we know who we're looking at! It could be anyone behind that veil & in the currant climate it is certainly NOT wise to allow it!! To ALL POLITICIANS >>>>>>>>>> wake up for God sake!!!!
i pray
may Allah make it easy his ummah.
to him
Allah save to him.
Thanks
May Allah bless him..
Not thought through
Great. That removes one argument for women who are trying to convince their husbands to allow them to go out without a veil.
His facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachid-Nekkaz/101539433680?sk=wall
truly a great man
truly a great man
May Allah bless u and ur
May Allah bless u and ur family.. and place u in janna!!!
Inspiring. Why should people
Inspiring. Why should people have to suffer and be persecuted before there is justice?
freedom for women!
women should have a free choice of doing as they like! if they want to roam the streets wearing a bikini they are welcome if they want to go covered head to toe but with free choice they should also be welcome! men who force women to cover head to toe who dont want to should be fined but also men who stop women who want to cover should also be fined and also one more important thing men and women who force women to work in bars as "exotic"pole dancer etc should also be fined if not jailed!!!! women should have a free right to do as they please no women wants to be objectified by random drunk men drooling over their bodies!! if any government really wants to "look out" for the women of their country they should completely banned the selling of women!!
they say that women cant get a job being covered head to toe why not? they can be a saleswomen you dont need to see there face for them to help you find the right size trousers? and if you are so worried for getting decent jobs for women then first go and provide a respectful job for all the women who are forced to sell themselves just to feed themselves and there families!!
I thought this was real good
I thought this was real good news, until the last part where it said he's running for president. All politics.
Fines
Simply either forbid a third party to pay such a fine or, in cases where a third party does pay, increase the fine to 1m €
...erm, you're missing something.
How are these countries in a position to lecture on women's rights? Has Belgium or France EVER had a woman president/PM?
Fantastic!
Finally! I am so glad people are beginning to realise what a stupid idea the burqa ban is. When people remove their emotions from their perspective on the situation they'll notice the hypocrisy. I am not a Muslim and I do think the burqa segregates women from society, however, this act is a racial target than it is about women's rights.
Westerners! Look to your own societies before you question the behaviour of others. Women may be 'freer' in today's societies but in gaining that freedom we have taken on other pressures; to be successful career-women, wonderful mothers, housewives and all the while looking like a supermodel. Our society is just as hard on women as some that you'd consider 'backwards'.
Sure, our women can drive and vote, but is pay equal for men and women? No! How many modern protagonists in novels are women? How many of the world's leaders are women? How many of the world's top 100 companies run by women?
Wake up. Before you inflict your anger and judgment on others, look to yourself.
Rag-heads
Maybe it isn't politically motivated. Maybe we just don't like god-damn muslim rag-heads!
french businessman
He should be charged with contempt and jailed ten years minimum. This is the same as treason!!Jain and NO bail
Muslim fundamentalis = Worldwide Problem
I wonder why they feel singled out in every corner of the WORLD ! Being different is not a problem.. its IMPOSING your believes on rest of the world.. thats the problem ! Women need to be given equal opportunity and status in society.. which unfortunately does not exist in the muslim world.. Women who support such draconian things are infact conditioned right from childhood to forcefully belife in anything said !
Religious freedom, really ?
For those who advocate the right to wear the veil, justifying this position by claim the right to follow your own faith: do you really think that in a Muslim environment women have the choice to NOT wear the veil ? Of course, some families are more open-minded than others, but still, a woman CANNOT go against the will of her Muslim family (well, mostly of her father, uncles, brothers or cousins... the male relatives). What is at stake here, is the liberty not to embrace a religion. I agree that banning the veil may not be the best option, but there are not so many possibilities. And you have to be aware that the recent rise of the veil is an indirect way to push to add more Islamic components to the French society, this in on a politic agenda. As a French having read the Koran and bits and pieces of the life of Muhammad, I am opposed to this. Regarding the Kuran, many not so many people realize that this book does not describe a religion as understood from a westerner perspective , but rather lists instructions to impose Islam to all non-muslims, three choices being given to the non-believers: conversion, submission and death. And I won't even detail problems linked to sexual equity, freedom of speech, freedom of faith, freedom of sexual orientation and so on...
IT IS NOT ABOUT WOMEN OR RELIGIONS
People complain about being treated differently or looked upon strangely. What do they expect when they think they are special and have a right to be different and segregate themselves from others?
Sharia is incompatible with the West
First it was the burkas, then burning thousands of cars, then thousands of muslims praying in the streets of Paris.
Read "Camp of The Saints" by Jean Raspail if you want to see where all this "tolerance" will take France and Europe.
PS - Your Leftists are standing with the muslims simply to help rip the heart and soul out of traditional France. Mistakenly they don't realize they will be the first to go once the muslims get more power.
veil
This is good news. Now the fine canbe raised to 100,000 Euros per violation and Franve will ease her debt and will bankrupt Nekkaz; a win, win!!
Hes just buying votes
Hes just buying votes
BURQA
Money is power and power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely!
Good, I would suggest civil
Good, I would suggest civil disobedience for all burkha users. If fines are not paid, the case will go on court. After french court system, burkha users may go for European court of the human rights. European court of the human rights will probably release these women from all penalties.
The way of thinking that in france you should follow french culture only is, in principle, a totalitarian idea. Freedom to choose the culture/religion (jewish, islamic, japanese, hippie etc.) to live is the main principle of the revolution.
Nekkaz butt out!
Why doesn't Nekkaz mind his own business. If women DON'T want to wear the burqu, why don't they fight their own battles? It's about time women stand up to their bullying husbands.
I agree with Lila Citar - Nekkaz is YET another man trying to make women do what HE wants them to do.
Law must prevail!- burqa must be van for security reasons!
I agree of the removal of burqa especially in eurporean countries. This is not faith we are talking . This is for security reasons for the good of the country everywhere. Everyone must adapt in order to attain harmony, peace and security. The Law must prevail!
Burqas
I agree with Rachid Nekkaz. The wearing of a Burqa is a religious entity and should be protected under the law. No one is harmed when a woman wears a religious symbol. I am a non-believer in religion. It is a matter of personal freedom for these women. I also agree with Rachid when it comes to protecting these same women from abuse too. He has hit the nail on the head. We Americans admire France for its liberal ways of allowing people to have freedom as long as they don't tread on someone else's rights.
This Burqa ordeal though is a mystery.
It's not against the law to do so in public in France !!
Please correct the end of first sentence by "in public buildings where the security of people requires a face uncovered"
The Historical Reality of Human Nature & Nations
I have always found it puzzling that anyone would want to permanently live in a country that is not compatible to their culture or religion — especially if they are truly invested in their own culture or religion. This is especially ludicrous when their are many more Islamic-oriented nations around the world where Muslim immigrants can live with much greater cultural and religious compatibility, as well as socioeconomic success.
With centuries of standards and traditions rooted in specific social and democratic expectations being essentially different in France and most of Europe, and other Christian cultures, why should their be an expectation that the people and government of an adopted European nation must change their culture to accomodate someone that doesn't want to culturally or socially be a part of that country?
Would Saudi Arabia or another Arab or Muslim country change their cultural standards and religious traditions for the benefit of large numbers of Europeans, Americans or Japanese if they permanently immigrated to those nations? Definitely not! History has proven this many times — especially during the colonization and de-colonization eras.
More than that, personally, I would not have the expectation or mentality of coming to live in France to experience or enjoy an Arab, Asian, African, or American way of life. What would be the point or cultural benefit in doing that?
When France speaks of "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" as its national standard and the moral compass of its citizens, it is abundantly clear even to this Afro-American that this applies only when you are culturally and socially invested in the French way of life, civilization, culture, and national goals. Very logical and reasonable, as it should be for any nation, and I'm okay that and feel "compatible" with this social investment.
Hopefully, France will not compromise centuries of culture and social assets for the expedient or short-term benefit of those who choose not to be culturally and socially invested in France and French society — just like in every other nation.
vails
bravo, freedom of choice,freedom of movement,freedom of speech. it is politicians who preach of freedom yet they impose laws to limit those same freedoms. It should also be noted that laws never stopped wrong doing instead by pushing laws on everybody it is those who disregard the laws who benefit from the laws.
French businessman 'to pay all burqa fines'
What a noble gentleman, GOD will bless him 10 as much as he's worth and GOD bless all the Muslims that lives the Islamic life style as GOD command.
Burqa
By wearing a burqa a woman can go about her business in public unmolested by male 'attentions' if she desires. What situation have we got here with M.Nekkaz ? Firstly he seems to respect the wishes / religion of women who CHOOSE to wear a burqa and he is willing to show up 'poodle' politicans who just want to look good on certain issues to gain votes. Then, on the other side, we have Mme. Citar saying that a man cannot 'hijack' her cause ! Surely it is possible for a man to sympathise with / understand a female problem ??
Disgusting
Once again, the "religion of peace" followers spouting "human rights" and "freedom of movement"... What a joke! These people come from backwards countries and follow a misogynistic death cult "relgion" that indoctrinates it's youth and subjugates it's women!! Yay let's all walk around with bags on our heads!!
Naquib
Bravo for Nakkaz. And to Amazones. This is nonsense. Women's shouldn't be subjected to these fines or forced into police stations to explain themselves or forced to wear veils.And of course Sarkozy and Nakkaz is manipulative, as are all politicians. It's the nature of the beast. But this is not a feminist issue. It's an issue of human rights, those of the women who are forced to wear veils and those of the women who choose to wear veils and are ticketed because they do. Frankly, I think these veils are scary as all hell but fear is not an excuse to round up women, ticket them or take them into police stations to explain themselves for wearing certain clothes. Next it will be the nuns.
Dubious
It's very dubious to use your wealth to incite not to respect the law: so what's next?
If you are that passionate about the burqa issue, spend your money being elected to the National Assembly, get elected and get the law repealed.
This is a very morally dubious approach to the issue.
This is rediculous! he should
This is rediculous! he should not allowed to do so! a fine not be paid by someone else, it is supposed to be a form of punishment against idividuals who break the law! his money is better spent on charity or sent to Somalia. These women who intimidate us should not be allowed to room free. if a baliklava is not allowed this Niqab thing should not be allowed either! what about my rights to feel safe in the streets????
Burqa
When a women refuses to take off the burqa in court or cannot be identified in cctv footage is she let go by the law because she cannot be identified? There are plenty of countries where the burqa can be worn, in fact where it is the law to force women to have one on if they go out in public. In the west the law is different and if you want to be there you follow the law of the country you are in.
You can tell that if his name
You can tell that if his name is rachid this man is from Arab origin, it is the importation of Arabs into Europe what creates people like him, thank God for the national front.
French Business Man to pay Burqa ban fines
Will he also be setting up a fund to pay the fines etc of those women who wish to wear western style dress in Islamic countries?? I didn't think so!!!!
burqa law or any law
Here in the US, the rule is generally that fines increase as offenses are repeated. Ultimately it could lead to contempt of court which could lead to jail time.
Now the law is really
Now the law is really efficient! Hopefully, the Saudi royalty will join in, adding a few billion $ to the fund. I am not a woman, but I am a patriot, so I am ready to wear burqa myself to fill up my country's public wallet at expense of a few rich morons.
Post new comment