10-11-2008, 10:53 PM
<b>France bans the burqa</b>
<b>Class rooms no place for orthodoxy</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A recent decision by Halde, the anti-discriminatory agency of France, demonstrates what the French think are limits to religious freedom in a secular society that is increasingly becoming multi-cultural. Halde has held it acceptable to ban burqas and niqabs worn by orthodox Muslim women in state-sponsored French language classes for immigrants. Under French law, such classes are sometimes required of those who apply for French residency or citizenship. <b>Complaints had been received by the agency that the presence of women dressed in such apparel interfered with the proper functioning of these classes. The agency then concluded that it was reasonable for public security and for the protection of civil liberties to ban the same from the publicly-funded language classrooms.</b> The decision was also based on practical considerations as it was found that language teachers were not able to impart phonetic instructions to their students without seeing their faces. However, Halde has also called the burqa a symbol of "female submission that goes beyond its religious meaning". This is, however, not to suggest that there is a blanket ban on the burqa in all of France. But clearly there are strong sentiments here against women who cover themselves from head to toe in public. This is, in part, a reflection of the tensions that French society faces as it tries to adapt to a changing population profile. France has been experiencing an influx of Muslim immigrants, both legal and illegal. Many of these people cling to orthodox practices and customs that are at odds with the French way of life. This has also been apparent in the occasional riots and ethnic clashes that the country has been witnessing of late.
<b>Secularism is what all societies should strive for, but there is a fine line between respecting others' beliefs and impinging on the same in the name of equality</b>. French President Nicholas Sarkozy had come to power on the promise of curbing illegal immigration. While trying to achieve that, he has been accused of implementing policies that impinge on a person's religious freedom. Previously, the decision to bar young Sikh children from wearing the turban in French public schools was met with considerable amount of condemnation from the Sikh community. Now this decision to ban the burqa in public language schools has the potential to trigger protests. Yet, it must be said that in a truly secular country, there must be a clear separation between faith and the state. <b>Since the ban applies to publicly funded classes, there is no reason why it should be found offensive. Sadly, our Government would baulk at the thought of doing something similar.</b>
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<b>Class rooms no place for orthodoxy</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A recent decision by Halde, the anti-discriminatory agency of France, demonstrates what the French think are limits to religious freedom in a secular society that is increasingly becoming multi-cultural. Halde has held it acceptable to ban burqas and niqabs worn by orthodox Muslim women in state-sponsored French language classes for immigrants. Under French law, such classes are sometimes required of those who apply for French residency or citizenship. <b>Complaints had been received by the agency that the presence of women dressed in such apparel interfered with the proper functioning of these classes. The agency then concluded that it was reasonable for public security and for the protection of civil liberties to ban the same from the publicly-funded language classrooms.</b> The decision was also based on practical considerations as it was found that language teachers were not able to impart phonetic instructions to their students without seeing their faces. However, Halde has also called the burqa a symbol of "female submission that goes beyond its religious meaning". This is, however, not to suggest that there is a blanket ban on the burqa in all of France. But clearly there are strong sentiments here against women who cover themselves from head to toe in public. This is, in part, a reflection of the tensions that French society faces as it tries to adapt to a changing population profile. France has been experiencing an influx of Muslim immigrants, both legal and illegal. Many of these people cling to orthodox practices and customs that are at odds with the French way of life. This has also been apparent in the occasional riots and ethnic clashes that the country has been witnessing of late.
<b>Secularism is what all societies should strive for, but there is a fine line between respecting others' beliefs and impinging on the same in the name of equality</b>. French President Nicholas Sarkozy had come to power on the promise of curbing illegal immigration. While trying to achieve that, he has been accused of implementing policies that impinge on a person's religious freedom. Previously, the decision to bar young Sikh children from wearing the turban in French public schools was met with considerable amount of condemnation from the Sikh community. Now this decision to ban the burqa in public language schools has the potential to trigger protests. Yet, it must be said that in a truly secular country, there must be a clear separation between faith and the state. <b>Since the ban applies to publicly funded classes, there is no reason why it should be found offensive. Sadly, our Government would baulk at the thought of doing something similar.</b>
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