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Sarkozy Calls Burqas 'a Sign of Debasement,' Backs Ban in France
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by Tina Kells | June 22, 2009 at 09:56 am
263 views | 20 Recommendations | 6 comments
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy made statements June 22, 2009 that back a ban on burqas in France before a parliamentary committee had even been assembled to review the situation. During a historic presidential address to the joint session of France's two parliamentary houses Sarkozy called burqas "a sign of debasement" that should not be tolerated. It was the first time in 136 years a French president had addressed both houses at the same time.
Sarkozy made the strong comments in reaction to a growing trend of burqas on French streets. In recent days many of France's political elite joined calls for a parliamentary review of the issue and a discussion of what could be done. Sarkozy made his comments before a review panel had been assembled and was already calling for an outright ban on burqas in France.
In the first presidential address in 136 years to a joint session of France's two houses of parliament, Sarkozy laid out his support for a ban even before the panel has been approved — braving critics who fear the issue is a marginal one and could stigmatize Muslims in France.
"In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said to extended applause in a speech at the Chateau of Versailles southwest of Paris.
"The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement — I want to say it solemnly," he said. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic."
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 13:06 on June 22nd, 2009
When in Rome, do as the Romans, especially if you want to live there permanently. Same holds for Paris.
The burqa is the Berlin Wall of Muslim-Western relations, hiding the woman behind a veil that keeps her removed from the West (and much of the rest of the world as well), while it allows the man to be the "wall-gatekeeper", carrying a bit of the oppression of his ways into our City of Man.
Not ok. Yes, tolerance, but there is a limit. At what point is what we have being chipped away instead of reinforced?
The burqa itself is not from the Koran.
at 23:42 on June 22nd, 2009
Pix show two women in Afghan style burqas ( photo 1 ) and two women in Pakistani style burqas ( photo 2 ).
turkveil has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:15 on June 23rd, 2009
Dont know what is the Muslims act on this comments, personally I too happy that ban that dress.
at 00:23 on June 23rd, 2009
I disagree with Mr. Sarkozy: there is only a handful of fully veiled women in Europe and I don´t believe that they are a "problem" for our strong democratic societies. Unfortunately there is a current movement of intolerance and racism swapping all over Europe today - thinly covered by some statements about the incompability of so-called "Western values" and the lifestyle of these people. And like crusaders it is up to us to bring them the benefits of western lifestyle and free these "poor" women. Why is the view of a veiled woman so disturbing for some people ? Maybe they feel uncomfortably remembered that there are still people who strongly believe in their religion - something lost for most of us. And despite the narrowminded view of people like Mr. Sarkozy: a veil can be a religious statement - as well as a political one. At least for myself I can clearly say that I don´t have a problem with the rare sight of a veiled woman and I don´t understand why others feel disturbed by it. Today we have other, more urgent and real problems than this one.
at 00:26 on June 23rd, 2009
"Sarkozy made the strong comments in reaction to a growing trend of burqas on French streets"
Can this be backed up with data, Mr. Sarkozy ?
at 06:07 on June 25th, 2009
The wearing of demeaning garments may be a woman's right but only if the choice is freely made. I have seen little evidence that this is a free choice amongst the majority of moslem women. Recent observations show that 15 or more years ago 'masked' women were rare in Cairo, whereas since the rise of 'fundamentalist' islaam there is scarcely any woman who will dare be seen in public in that city without a coverall. I refute that there is freedom of choice until I see evidence of a secret ballot amongst moslem women - particular in european society - to support it.
Perhaps, in Britain, we can support, in a light hearted way, those that may be suffering in silence by refusing to give dignity to these impositions and describe them in Anglo-Saxon terms such as: 'the tent', 'the sheet', 'the scarf' - perhaps there are alternatives, these are my first thoughts. In this way we can discuss the matter freely and openly but at the same time unhook the descriptions of these garments from the oppressive ideology that enforces them.