La France, premier pays européen à interdire le niqab et la burqa

[Al-khiyal]

France :
Une loi sur la burqa « serait une erreur politique », prévient Yazid Sabeg

Dimanche 14 Février 2010 -- Le commissaire à la Diversité Yazid Sabeg estime qu'une éventuelle loi sur la burqa serait "difficile à appliquer" et s'apparenterait à une "erreur politique", dans un entretien dimanche au journal français Le Parisien. "Mobiliser le Parlement en faveur d'une loi, du reste difficile à appliquer, sera vécu comme une initiative stigmatisante et de circonstance parce que le télescopage entre burqa et islam est mécanique. Ce serait une erreur politique", avertit M. Sabeg, d’origine algérienne. Il réaffirme que le débat sur la burqa est "une provocation (...) un piège tendu à l'opinion". Quant au débat sur l'identité nationale, le commissaire à la Diversité juge qu'il serait "bon de marquer une pause pendant les régionales avant de passer à la suite". M. Sabeg s'était déjà dit mal à l'aise avec ce débat, qui "ouvre un champ et un espace au Front national" et avait appelé le président de la République à le "recadrer". Il estime dans le Parisien que les première mesures annoncées la semaine dernière par le Premier ministre François Fillon "sont symboliques et de bon sens". Yazig Sabeg se montre également assez critique sur la place accordée aux minorités sur les listes UMP pour les régionales, estimant que "ce n'est pas encore le grand soir de la diversité".

[Al-khiyal]

Dati: Burka 'not a religious expression'

February 19, 2010 -- The former French justice minister, Rachida Dati, has condemned the wearing of the burka, saying that it "does not correspond" to European values. Ms Dati, the first person of North African descent to serve in the French cabinet, is in the UK to visit the Justice Secretary Jack Straw's Blackburn constituency. In a rare interview, she told Today programme reporter Zubeida Malik that "it's important to remind what helps citizens live together and have a common destiny and living together and having a common destiny means having principles and values in common. "And it's true that the burka" - the wearing of which is now the subject of heated debate in France - "does not correspond neither to our values nor to our principles whether French or British and not even European. So it is important to say no to this expression that is not a religious expression." Ms Dati rejected suggestions that banning the burka and other face veils would make them more popular. "We have to remember that often women who wear the burka are either doing it out of ignorance or others are motivated by an activism linked to the creation of a new identity," she said. "And to those for whom it represents the expression of an identity, it is important to say that in our countries there can't be any confrontation of identities. There is one single identity based upon common values and principles shared by our countries."

'Complicated private life'

Rachida Dati was a lawyer when she was named as French justice minister by President Sarkozy in 2007. She was the first person of North African origin to hold a top government post in Paris. Born in 1965 to a Moroccan mason father and an Algerian mother, Ms Dati was one of 12 children raised in humble circumstances. Aged 16, she started working as a carer in a private clinic, looking after her younger sisters and brothers after her mother's death. But, working by day, learning by night, she gained degrees in both economics and law, and went on to work for various public and private companies - including a spell working as an accountant for French oil giant Elf. In 1997, Rachida Dati enrolled in the prestigious National College of Magistrates, where she studied for two years. The ties with Nicolas Sarkozy that would eventually take her to the cabinet began in 2002. She wrote to the then freshly-appointed interior minister, expressing her desire to advise him on immigration - Mr Sarkozy accepted. She went on to become a constant figure at his side, taking on the tough job of spokeswoman during his presidential campaign. As his adviser, she played an important role in dealing with the delicate issue of integration. After the 2005 riots in the French suburbs, when Nicolas Sarkozy called the rioters - some of whom were of North African origin - "scum", Ms Dati worked behind the scenes to limit the damage, as her boss stood accused of racism. After becoming justice minister, she became a controversial figure, being accused of pushing legislation through without proper consultation. Ms Dati defends Sarkozy's "rainbow" government. "He wanted gender parity in his government, with women at responsibility roles, which never happened before, and also with different backgrounds, different social conditions, and also different ages as he is very young also," she says. But, in 2009, she quit the Sarkozy cabinet and successfully ran for the European Parliament. Ms Dati had previously come under fire for returning to work just five days after giving birth. A first-time mother, and single, she has kept the father's identity under wraps, telling reporters she had "a complicated private life" and sparking an intense guessing game in the French press. Now settling in to her new role as an MEP, Rachida Dati has a brisk response to those who ask about a return to French politics, "But I have never left it!"

[Al-khiyal]

France :
Le Conseil d'Etat se prononce contre l'interdiction générale de la burqa

Samedi 27 Mars 2010 -- François Fillon recevra dans quelques jours le rapport du Conseil d'Etat sur les implications juridiques d'une éventuelle loi interdisant la burqa. Selon le quotidien français Le Figaro, ce rapport « écarte la possibilité d'une interdiction générale » du voile intégral. Selon l'argumentation du Conseil d'Etat, une interdiction générale ne pourrait se fonder que sur l'atteinte à la dignité humaine. La question qui se pose est celle de l'opposition entre libre choix et dignité, étant donné que plusieurs musulmanes ont revendiqué le droit de pouvoir porter le voile intégral. Selon Le Figaro, les sages du Conseil d'Etat se sont appuyés « sur le préambule de la Constitution rédigé par Simone Veil, qui estime que le consentement est désormais essentiel et qu'on ne peut décider a priori ce qui est digne pour les adultes ». Au final, la burqa pourrait être interdit dans certaines circonstances pouvant relever du trouble à l'ordre public et d'un impératif de sécurité. Cela pourrait concerner les lieux publics, les gares, les aéroports et les commerces sensibles comme les banques et les bijouteries, selon le journal. En revanche, la burqa ne pourrait pas être interdite dans la rue. Cette recommandation du Conseil d'Etat tombe cependant mal pour le gouvernement français qui défend depuis plusieurs semaines l'idée de cette interdiction. Le président français, Nicolas Sarkozy, avait d'ailleurs annoncé un projet de loi en ce sens.

[Al-khiyal]

[Ruks]

hmmm..i never really understand what France (or other european countries) has against the wearing of the hijaab. Why don't they have the same aversion and hate towards the nun's habit? if they really want to ban it in their nation (clearly the french muslims have no right to oppose this, afterall, they are just muslims and nothing else) then many women will just remain in their homes and not bother to participate in public life anymore. or the jails in france will be full of muslim women. it is rather silly for a non-muslim to assume that the hijaab is a sign of oppression- they muslim woman can speak for herself and her hijaab is her choice.

it always makes me laugh when ethnic minorities reach high level public office, and then present their heritage as something 'backward'.

[Serenity]

Assalamualaikum sisters,

wow I can't believe this debate is still going on and to read the latest statements by Dati is just laughable she represents someone who has completely turned back on her roots and has totally ''assimilated'' to the so -called '' values'' of modern secular france. It's sad I've noticed that some media outlets are doing the muslims vs muslims kind of debates where muslims who are totally anti-burqa are having a right go at the muslims who are defending the women's rights to wear it. The same argument keeps coming up over and over that muslims should make that compromise and adhere to the ''laws of the land''. Last time I checked there is actually a law in Britain for eg that allows religious freedom of all kinds.

Dati reminds me of the many muslim women in Britain and in the west who have really elevated in their careers and see religion as a real hindrance , so when a debate about muslim women's rights comes up they are the first ones to condemn this so-called ''extreme'' aspect of Islam.

Sorry if I'm not making much sense but I find this very hurtful. Muslim women have always been at the forefront of criticism with regards to our religion and I'm just getting sick of it.

@Umm Harith Kudos to you sister! for defending yourself on the radio show I'm sorry they treated you like that , sounds to me the whole thing was orchestrated beforehand but I am proud of you sister keep strong x

@ Ruks I know we never see a debate about nun's habits ever !

I really feel for the muslims in france but this campaign is obviously aimed at alienating them.

@ Al Khiyal I thought Dati got sacked/demoted or something because apparently she was the one who first started those rumours about sarkozy and Bruni's extra-marital affairs?

ahhh but on a positive note I have noticed a slow rise in women wearing the Niqab Alhamdulilah particularly amongst reverts here in Britain .

Despite all this I can feel a change coming Inshallah a good one.

'' They try and put out the light of Allah with their mouths. However the light of Allah will continue to glow even though the unbelievers hate it'' (Chapter 61-8,as Saff).

Lets keep strong sisters.

[Al-khiyal]

@ Al Khiyal I thought Dati got sacked/demoted or something because apparently she was the one who first started those rumours about sarkozy and Bruni's extra-marital affairs?

Salam, ya Serenity,

You can follow some of 'rumours' coverage >>> here <<<