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Sat, May 26 2012
French national assembly approves burqa ban
General view of deputies in the hemicycle during the vote to ban full-face veils worn by some Muslim women in public, at the national assembly in Paris, July 13 2010. French lawmakers voted to ban full-length veils in public places, putting France on the road to becoming the second European country to take steps to make wearing the burqa or niqab a criminal offence.
The lower house of the French parliament has voted in favor of banning the burqa in public, the female Muslim veil which covers the entire face and body.
With broad cross-party support for banning the burqa, lawmakers at the French National Assembly voted in favor of the bill by an overwhelming 336 votes for and just one against the measure.
Speaking after the bill was passed, Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the law is underpinned by humanitarian values, "which today, like yesterday, forge our unity, our individuality and which are the foundations of the greatness of France."
The measure now goes to the Senate in September. If it is passed there, it will be signed into law, and it will become illegal in France to wear the full veil anywhere in public.
Anyone who breaks that law could be fined the equivalent of around $200. Men caught forcing their wives to wear the full veil would face a much larger $40,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
The government estimates that at most, 2,000 women in France wear the full veil. But the French Parliament passed a resolution describing the burqa as "contrary to the values of the French republic."
Critics claim the government is unfairly targeting members of the Muslim faith who choose to wear the garment. They say it violates the French constitution, and have vowed to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A successful challenge there would force France to repeal the ban.
Source: VOANews.com
With broad cross-party support for banning the burqa, lawmakers at the French National Assembly voted in favor of the bill by an overwhelming 336 votes for and just one against the measure.
Speaking after the bill was passed, Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the law is underpinned by humanitarian values, "which today, like yesterday, forge our unity, our individuality and which are the foundations of the greatness of France."
The measure now goes to the Senate in September. If it is passed there, it will be signed into law, and it will become illegal in France to wear the full veil anywhere in public.
Anyone who breaks that law could be fined the equivalent of around $200. Men caught forcing their wives to wear the full veil would face a much larger $40,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
The government estimates that at most, 2,000 women in France wear the full veil. But the French Parliament passed a resolution describing the burqa as "contrary to the values of the French republic."
Critics claim the government is unfairly targeting members of the Muslim faith who choose to wear the garment. They say it violates the French constitution, and have vowed to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. A successful challenge there would force France to repeal the ban.
Source: VOANews.com
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Cosmos is correct mentioning that
it is men who impose on women their dressing more the Fundamentalism and strictness in
dressing are directly proportional.
Am I correct in saying that it is the men that make the women dress like they do in Islamic country.Is it not true that at this moment in Iran that the women are starting to dress the way they want to.But as I said I would abide by the law in any country I vist this shows respect, If it was ramadan I would drink a glass of water at my hotel to show respect
On a lighter side some women need to be fully clothed in tents.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained foul, abusive or discriminating language
To Cosmos: Yes, you would abide by their law. If you drink a glass of water in the street in daylightdrring Ramadan you can go to prison. Still, in most countries a woman can wear 'provocative ' clothing and people can drink alcohol in bars. So they do 'accommodate' foreigners.
I still cannot understand why the fine for force goes to the government and not the victim.
Well done to France.I fully agree with this initiative and i believe that the rest of EU must follow suit.
Never understood what the big deal was. 2000 burkas in France!
In Holland, most women who dress in a tent are not Turks or Moroccans, but hysterical Dutch ....s who went over to Islam, often after having made the round of Pentecostals, Bagwan, and Shiva knows what. The only burka I have seen in Holland was on a bike, one hand at the handlebar and the other balancing a bag of groceries on the packrack...No Turk can do that.
If I went to an Islamic country I would abide by there law and respect it.If Muslims go to a western country they should abide by the law in that country and respect it.
so whats the problem.
If a husband verbally abuses his wife- for example breaks her arm,
is he by law required to pay her a similar fine that will now be imposed for forcing her to fully cover and to go to prison for one or two years. I do not know if this exists in French law, but I think it needs to be consistent with the law they are now passing.The mind boggles at the thought of the global community imposing fines and prison sentences such as the new French law when women are violated Women have told me they [...]
Read the full comment cover so men will not be desirous of them. Others have tod me that their husbands force them. The issue is complicated but one thing is not; let men and women pay the penalty for violating the other.
there was no need to wear it in the first place,it's simply another form of insecurity thus gathering around a "same thinking group"time to grow up and be responsible for our lives without these tribal accessories.