Morning:
8°c
Sarkozy: Burka not welcome on French soil
Peter Allen, in Paris22 Jun 2009
The Islamic burka is "not welcome" in France and should be banned, President Sarkozy announced today.
In comments which were set to infuriate radical Muslim leaders, he said the body covering "is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience".
He added: "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic."
A group of 58 MPs from the Left and Right has called on the French parliament to take action against women who are adopting what they called "oppressive" head-to-toe Islamic dress that "breaches individual freedoms".
There are more than five million Muslims in the secular French republic, but everything has been done to prevent them showing off their religion in public. In 2004 France banned the wearing of religious headscarves in state schools.
André Gerin, a Communist MP, led the motion for the latest inquiry, calling the burka and niqab "a moving prison" for women. Some women's groups, including Muslim ones, back the new measures. Housing minister Fadela Amara, a rights campaigner of Algerian background, said that she was alarmed by the number of women "who are being put in this kind of tomb".
But the national Muslim council accused French lawmakers of wasting time on a fringe phenomenon. It is estimated that 100,000 women in France have taken to full costumes with face covering.
Mr Sarkozy's government announced last week that it would seek to set up a parliamentary commission that could propose legislation aimed at barring Muslim women from wearing head-to-toe gowns outside the home.
The issue is highly divisive even within the government. France's junior minister for human rights, Rama Yade, said she was open to a ban if it was aimed at protecting women forced to wear the burka. But immigration minister Eric Besson said a ban would only "create tensions".
US President Barack Obama attacked French and other European laws in a speech in Cairo last week in which he said that America prized freedom of religion, adding: "We are not going to tell people what to wear."
Reader views (9)
What about Gilad Shalit sarky, all your promises?
- Zznhl, London, 23/06/2009 07:51
Report abuse
He has more courage than our politicans and more importantly does not think women in a modern world should be second class citizens
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 23/06/2009 07:01
Report abuse
HURRAH !AT LAST A POLITICIAN WHO PUTS HIS COUNTRY FIRST AND IS NOT AFRAID TO CALL IT AS IT IS AND IS NOT LOOKING TO BE "POLITICALLY CORRECT" TO SECURE VOTES AND POPULARITY AMOUNGST THE MUSLIM WORLD THREE CHEERS FOR THE FRENCH MORE LEADERS OF THE WESTERN WORLD SHOULD FOLLOW SARKOSY'S COMMON SENSE AND DETERMINATION TO LET THE MUSLIMS KNOW THAT FRANCE IS STILL A FRENCH DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY FOUNDED ON JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES AND WHERE FREEDOM FOR ALL STILL RULES
- Tina, OTTAWA CANADA, 22/06/2009 23:57
Report abuse
good for him and the french
- Ian, London, 22/06/2009 21:45
Report abuse
I like his view point. He is at least being honest. All those who support Burqa or veil are pseudo-intellectuals who cannot think straight.
- Raj, India, 22/06/2009 21:10
Report abuse
Well done Sarkozy! Secular state first, religion second. Private religious display is fine, but in the public realm it should be moderated by a free secular society, and should certainly always indicate the social equality of men and women. Vive La France!
- Paul Freeman, London, England, 22/06/2009 17:45
Report abuse
Bravo!
- Chris Williams, Cardiff, 22/06/2009 17:39
Report abuse
Hope he wins!
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK, 22/06/2009 17:35
Report abuse
Note that the global spokesman, best man that has ever lived, Prime Minster of the world Obama is again sticking his orr in........
- Lb, London, 22/06/2009 17:28
Report abuse
