French MPs say burqa off!
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A cross-party commission of French MPs today recommended a partial ban on the wearing of the Islamic face veil, which it says will send a clear message that the garment is "unacceptable" in France's secular society.
The commission wants parliament to adopt a ban on wearing face veils, such as the burqa and niqab, on state property. Women who refused to remove the veil would be denied access to places such as hospitals and benefit offices.
Controversy has been brewing since President Nicholas Sarkozy announced over the summer that the burqa was "not welcome in France". As a clear symbol of Muslim faith and seen by many as oppressive to women, the veil triggers concerns among many people in the country, which is currently engaged in a government-sponsored "great debate" about its national identity.
A prominent group of right-wing MPs have already slammed the plans as "a half-law" and are pushing for a complete ban. They say the veil is completely at odds with France's principles of secularism, freedom and equality. The latest opinion poll shows they have the backing of almost three-quarters of French citizens.
Critics of the proposed ban say it will stigmatise France's 5 million-strong Muslim population and create more social tension. They also point out that, according to French Interior Ministry statistics, just a tiny proportion of the country's Muslim women - 1,900 in total - wear a full veil.
The proposed partial ban will have be turned into draft legislation and go before the parliament for debate before it can become law, a process that is likely to generate still more controversy every step of the way.
United Kingdom
I completely agree with banning the burqua; in fact, I agree with banning headscarves and veils completely. There is nothing in the Koran which says veils, etc, should be worn - only a suggestion that people dress "modestly". Veils are literally the result of men subjugating their women.
Apart from anything else, how does one know if it is actually a woman under these things? We say we want to stop terrorism and, after a would-be bomber fled the UK dressed in one, this dreadful way of dressing should be banned completely in Europe.
Finally, if these people want to live in Europe, in the 21st century, then they should abide by European values and standards. If they don't, they they should leave and go back to whatever country they want to be oppressed in.
