French Government Open To Anti-burka Law - Spokesman
A group of lawmakers is calling for a special inquiry into whether Muslim women who cover themselves fully in public undermine French secularism and women's rights.
"If it were determined that wearing the burka is a submissive act, and that it is contrary to republican principles, well naturally parliament would have to drawn the necessary conclusions," said spokesman Luc Chatel. Asked whether that would mean introducing legislation, he said: "why not."
Communist lawmaker Andre Gerin is spearheading the drive for a parliamentary panel that would look at ways to restrict the burka which he describes as a "prison" and "degrading" for women. The deputy is also mayor of the southern city of Venissieux, home to a large north African immigrant population, where he says the sight of covered women is not a rare occurrence.
Home to Europe's largest Muslim minority, France passed a controversial law in 2004 forbidding girls from wearing veils in state schools as part of the government's drive to defend secularism.
"We are facing a major debate," Chatel told France 2 television.
The spokesman voiced support for a parliamentary commission, saying: "I think it's important because it will allow us to have a better view of the issue."
The proposal has won support from many politicians from both the left and right, but France's Muslim council accused lawmakers of wasting time focusing on a fringe phenomenon.
"To raise the subject like this, via a parliamentary committee, is a way of stigmatizing Islam and the Muslims of France," said Mohammed Moussaoui, head of the French Council for the Muslim Religion, or CFCM.
"We are shocked by the idea parliament should be put to work on such a marginal issue," he said, saying lawmakers would do better to focus on the hundreds of thousands of jobs being lost in the economic crisis.
A few thousand women wear the burka in France, many of whom are French converts who chose to cover themselves to assert their faith, according to Le Figaro newspaper.
Immigration Minister Eric Besson has warned against reigniting a row on the issue of Islamic dress, saying "France has managed to strike a balance, and it would be dangerous to call that into question."
If the lower house agrees to set up the commission, it would draft a report to be released no later than Nov. 30, said Gerin.
Click here to go to Dow Jones NewsPlus, a web front page of today's most important business and market news, analysis and commentary: http://www.djnewsplus.com/access/al?rnd=t8qW8jUx%2BIXENFAy%2FAYL3g%3D%3D. You can use this link on the day this article is published and the following day.
Publié le 19 Juin 2009 Copyright © 2009 Dowjones
Partager sur:
