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Latest update: 22/04/2010
- Burqa - French politics - Islamic veil - tourism
Proposed burqa ban will also be imposed on tourists
One day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy lent his support to a strict public ban on full veils; his government has announced its intention to also impose this law on tourists as well as residents.
By News Wires (text)
REUTERS - France's government on Thursday announced it would apply a proposed ban on face-covering Islamic veils to visiting tourists as well as residents, even as sceptisim mounted over the legality of the plan.
Junior family minister Nadine Morano said visitors would have to "respect the law" and uncover their faces, prompting critics to speculate whether Saudi luxury shoppers would be forced to unveil themselves on the glitzy Champs-Elysees. "When you arrive in a country you have to respect the laws of that country," Morano said on France Info radio. "If I go to certain countries I'm also forced to respect the law."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday backed a strict public ban of the veil, commonly referred to in France as the burqa, eschewing more moderate proposals that focused on limits in state institutions such as schools and town halls.
The draft bill will be presented to the cabinet next month.
"Why should we accept (the veil) on the bus and not in the town hall?" Morano said. She repeated Sarkozy's line that the veil hurts the dignity of women and equality between the sexes.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Wednesday he was ready to take on a "legal risk" by supporting the ban, which could be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights on the grounds that it violates freedom of religion.
France's highest court has already warned the government that a complete ban could be unlawful.
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(19) Reactions
Burqa
I understood that the burqa is not mentioned in the Koran, only that women should be modest. That does not mean that they should cover themselves so as to be unidentifiable.
freedom to choose
"France's government on Thursday announced it would apply a proposed ban on face-covering Islamic veils to visiting tourists as well as residents..."
a no brainer, I think, tourists should just go spend their vacation dollars in a more sensible country.
totaly AGREE
I absolutely agree with France! soon the other countries will fallow. Go France the Europe is with you.
burka
Why should my face been seen on every cctv camera and my privicey be invaded, but if I were muslim and wore a veil I could have anonimity? Surery were are all ment to be the same!
veil ban
since when the veil hurts the dignity of women and the equilitay beteween sexes?
if a women decide to wear a veil it's her choice and her business not Sarkosy business. this is really against humain rights. it doesn't violate freedom of relegion but the freedom of humain beiging, who has the right to wear what he wants.
Burqa
Thank god, for given the courage to president sarkozy to have the guts to say NO to this burqa fad. it has nothing to do with Islam.
for those who believe otherwise they can stay in there country.
yahia from algeria
ABOUT BANNING the Christian crucifixes on jewelery
To the person who asked the question about should the Christian crucifixes be banned also...
A actually do not see what the point of this comment is?! But I do have answer...
In Christian domminated contries like France, Europe, United States, UK and so on, those things SHOULD NOT be banned! That would be absolutely absurd!That is where it belongs...
Afterall, it is not like Christian people represent any danger for the muslims or any other religion. He does NOT hide his identity. He maybe has a cross around his neck which easily can be hidden, it is a private, intimate thing, to what the burqa on the other hand CANNOT be compared AT ALL...
It is just like someone said, like wearing a "ski mask"... and today where so much is going on, you are not safe anywhere, not even when you can see the face of the person comming right at you... underneath a burqa everything between heaven and earth can be hidden! you can't even see the hands!
I understand that people who wears it are starting to panic. Religion is a private thing, very important thing for me also, but if we look away from the religion for a sec... it is not acceptable!
good Decision
As a muslim I agree that it is a very good decision banning the burqua. I hope that all muslim and non-muslim countries take the same decision. Thanks,
To burka or not to burka
Totally agree with the comments made by Parisienne and Ragu. If you wish to wear the burka then stay in those countries where it is a way of life, don't come to another country and try to change the way of life to suit what you left behind. I would like to see the ban in the UK but I can't see that happening - it will upset the PC brigade.
The ban
Great decision, Mr. Sarkozy! I hope other European countries will do the same thing. I think Belgium is on its way to ban burqas in public, too.
I lived in the Middle East for few years and I had to respect their rules and traditions, so I dressed differently. But, when they come to our country, they do not respect our laws and lifestyle. Their main goal is to spread Islam, that is clearly stated in the Koran. Also, what I find interesting, Muslims usually come to Europe in order to find better life and have more freedom, to escape that old-fashioned way of life they had in their country. But then, after a while, they start imposing the same thing they ran away from. How ignorant and disrespectful is that? I mean, they still stone people do death in some Muslim countries! Enough with the 5th century views and traditions. It's time to move forward.
Merci.