French Ban on Islamic Veils

When I first heard about this issue a couple months ago it really grabbed my attention. I was surprised when I read today that the bill to ban burqas and niqabs passed in France's senate yesterday. Now the bill awaits President Sarkozy's signature, who stated in 2009 that the veils were "not welcome" in France.

Estimates report that a slim minority, only about 2,000 women, will be affected by this newest ban. While some have speculated that the ban is just another example of Western mistrust towards the Muslim community, the "burqa ban" is by no means an isolated incident.

This ban is just another step on France's path to complete secularization. Similar bans have also outlawed crucifixes, yarmulkes, and turbans. Despite outcry from religious groups the bans continue.

Since no religion is being favored over another and all religions are being equally restricted, this bill is anything but unfair. Of course, I don't agree with France restricting its citizens' rights but if France wants to be a secular nation, that's their prerogative.

However, the justification for this latest ban is that burqas and niqabs are oppressive to Muslim woman because their religion (and by extension the men involved with their religion) force them to wear those garments. While this may certainly be the case for traditional and fundamentalist practitioners, one shouldn't assume that none of the women are wearing burqas by their own volition.

So, when Sarkozy said the new law "is to protect women from being forced to cover their faces and to uphold France's secular values" he means the new law is to uphold France's secular values. There's no reason to adopt the guise of protecting women's rights because that's not what this ban is truly about.

To France's credit, however, the new law does attempt to address the issue of fundamentalist abuse towards women. Though there's a €150 fine for women who violate the law (including foreign tourists) but there's a penalty of a €30,000 fine and one year in jail for anyone who requires another person to wear a veil.

So, it's not all political posturing.