studentsineurope

France considering burka ban

In the most recent controversy emanating from Old Europe’s culture clash with its growing Muslim population, the French parliament is considering a ban on public wearing of the burka, the head-to-toe black garment worn by some Muslim women.  The burka has become a symbol of fundamentalist Islam and is the source of criticism from the left and the right, though the origin of the French aversion to the burka is a little ambiguous.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy has invoked the principles of gender equality and sexual freedom, and indeed the burka tends to be aligned with the subordination of women to men.  But is the proposed ban (which may be a nonbinding resolution or may actually authorize the issuance of fines for public display) really just about women’s freedom, or is that a pretext for ridding European streets of any sign of Islam’s presence?  Is it a good idea for the government to tell people what to wear?  As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

This might become a rare sight if Sarkozy gets his way.

There are six million Muslims in France, mostly from the former French colonies of North and West Africa.  Undoubtedly, they’re here to stay.  With Switzerland recently taking the drastic step of banning the construction of mosque minarets, the proposed French law might be next in a series of legislative battles in a cultural war.  Hopefully, they’ll do the right thing.  But the criscrossing mix of principles, ideals, and interests at stake make ‘what’s right’ seem disconcertingly ambiguous.

Update: On Tuesday, a French parliamentary panel voted to officially recommend steps toward restriction the wearing of veils in public facilities.  See the New York Times report here.