http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1
PARIS (AP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out Monday at the practice of wearing the Muslim burqa, insisting the full-body religious gown is a sign of the "debasement" of women and that it won't be welcome in France.
The French leader expressed support for a recent call by dozens of legislators to create a parliamentary commission to study a small but growing trend of wearing the full-body garment in France.
In the first presidential address in 136 years to a joint session of France's two houses of parliament, Sarkozy laid out his support for a ban even before the panel has been approved—braving critics who fear the issue is a marginal one and could stigmatize Muslims in France.
"In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all iden y," Sarkozy said to extended applause in a speech 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."
In France, the terms "burqa" and "niqab" often are used interchangeably. 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.
Later Monday, Sarkozy was expected to host a state dinner with Sheik Hamad Bin Jassem Al Thani of Qatar. Many women in the Persian Gulf state wear Islamic head coverings in public—whether while shopping or driving cars.
France enacted a law in 2004 banning the Islamic headscarf and other con uous religious symbols from public schools, sparking fierce debate at home and abroad. France has Western Europe's largest Muslim population, an estimated 5 million people.
A government spokesman said Friday that it would seek to set up a parliamentary commission that could propose legislation aimed at barring Muslim women from wearing the 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 is aimed at protecting women forced to wear the burqa.
But Immigration Minister Eric Besson said a ban would only "create tensions."
A leading French Muslim group warned against studying the burqa.
What if it's worn voluntarily? I don't see how you can actually enforce that.
I know that some Muslim women wear it because they think that only their husbands should be able to behold them. I think young children shouldn't wear them in any situations though.
So the victimized women who are allegedly forced to wear burqas will now be prosecuted and punished by the government for being victims.
Interesting.
at least he's doing something--unlike Obama.
??? A ban on something like that in the US would be shot down fast. Unless you're being sarcastic.
A law against baggy pants was struck down as being uncons utional. A burqa can be presumed to have even more 1st amendment protection than that.
This forum is full of burqa experts.
I've never seen a woman in SA wearing a full burqa. Just head scarf (sorry, don't know the technical term). The full burqa would probably scare the living out of children.
What if your religion required full nudity?
No surprise here. The entire French government is in the pocket of the Big Beret lobby.
So are you saying Obama needs to start lobbying to ban burqas?
So you love freedom, but not for choice in clothing.
Thanks. This forum has definitely been lacking some humor, of late.
If it was a real religion, not just people wanting to shock people, then I suspect that there would be some way to make it work...
I do think that Sarkozy and France is overstepping their abilities, but since they aren't based off of religious freedom quite like we are, they might do it anyways.
or at least say he supports the ban in order to embolden Sarkozy.
That's using an extreme to try to prove a point which isn't really valid.
There are limitations to the 1st amendment if it interferes with the public good.
You can't have human sacrifices and claim it's protected under the 1st. Just like you can't scream "fire" in a crowded theater and claim free speech.
Given the choice, I think most women that live in extremely hot climates would choose to dress head-to-toe in black curtains and follow at least 5 paces behind their superior husbands.
LOL. Burqas aren't extreme? How about scaring the out of kids. , that, they scare the out of me. I want to at least see eyeballs.
it's probably an effective way of combating skin cancer and heat-related strokes (provided they stay hydrated).
I think you would be surprised what people think... Just because you find it distasteful doesn't mean that the people in the other cultures do too. Its the way things are, and it is how they are raised, and it is their duty. I think you would be surprised if you went and tried to interview women on their beliefs. Sure, you would get a lot of younger women who agree with you, but you would get a lot who think you are wrong.
So you aren't talking about France anymore.
Tell me whether you think burqas should be banned in France or the US.
You frighten easily.
I think the French textile lobby is going to fight this tooth and nail.
Your extreme was saying "what if you wanted to be nude" or something.
People are scared less of clowns. Are you saying that if something scares somebody it should be banned? I'm scared of those dudes with tats all over their face and piercing coming out of their eyes... doesn't mean I think they should be banned.
I thought Sarkozy wasn't a racist !!!!
*cynism*
Cultural relativism.
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