Sarkozy says burqa imprisons Muslim women...
President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Muslim burqa would not be welcome in France, calling the full-body religious gown a sign of the "debasement" of women.
In the first presidential address to parliament in 136 years, Sarkozy faced critics who fear the burqa issue could stigmatize France's Muslims and said he supported banning the garment from being worn in public.
"In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said to extended applause at the Chateau of Versailles, southwest of Paris.
"The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement _ I want to say it solemnly," he said. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic."
Dozens of legislators have called for creating a commission to study a possible ban in France, where there is a small but growing trend of wearing the full-body garment despite a 2004 law forbidding it from being worn in public schools.
France has Western Europe's largest Muslim population, an estimated 5 million people, and the 2004 law sparked fierce debate both at home and abroad.
Even the French government has been divided over the issue, with Immigration Minister Eric Besson saying a full ban would only "create tensions," while 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 burqa.
The terms "burqa" and "niqab" often are used interchangeably in France. The former refers to a full-body covering worn largely in Afghanistan with only a mesh screen over the eyes, whereas the latter is a full-body veil, often in black, with slits for the eyes.
A leading French Muslim group, the French Council for the Muslim Religion, has warned against studying the burqa, saying it would "stigmatize" Muslims.
Sarkozy was due to host a state dinner Monday with Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani of Qatar, where women wear Islamic head coverings in public ; whether while shopping or driving cars.
what do you guys think of this? personally, I found Sarkozy's comments to be rather ignorant. The main reason for this is that he's based his views on some of the most insulting stereotypes around. I know plenty of Muslim women and although none of them fully cover; a lot of their mothers' do. They aren't forced into it by their husbands. They aren't 'socially isolated.' They're actually warm, happy people who laugh and talk as loud as the next gossipy housewife/mother/woman. The reason I've always gotten for covering up completely from them is that they want their voices to be heard; not their bodies to be leered at. Now whether or NOT you agree or disagree with the way they go about achieving a sense of empowerment; you have to understand that that's what it makes them feel - empowered; not downtrodden, not socially isolated, not forced. Although a lot of Muslim women around the world are forced into submissive roles and covering up is a big part of it; it is not the case for the majority. Personally, I could never cover up like they do but that doesn't mean I'm going to condemn what they decide to do - it is their choice and so long as it is their choice and it isn't harming me or anyone else; it's completely fine. I think people are extremely prejudiced, when they see a woman covered head to toe walking down the street; it is alien to them - it would be alien to me too if I didn't live in a community with a lot of Muslim immigrant - and because it is alien to them, they avoid these women, don't make contact with them and then it is their own prejudices which are socially isolating these women - not their clothing. However, this is just my opinion and I've put it up because I want it to be challenged... and as this is ONTD, I'm sure it will be. :)
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