Sarkozy Wishes to Ban Burqas

There is a recent, growing trend in France of women wearing full-body burqas, the traditional head-to-toe black covering worn by many Islamic women. The trend has raised concern among many Frenchmen .... so much so, that dozens of legislators have called for the formation of a parliamentary commission to study this increasing use of burqas. It is possible that the commission could impose a ban on wearing them.

President Nicolas Sarkozy very boldly stated his personal concerns about the burqa, calling it a sign of debasement of women and that its wearing would not be allowed in France.

Here are some of the things Sarkozy commented on (source):

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."

Wow! -- pretty doggone bold, especially given that France hosts Europe's largest Islamic population -- estimates of approximately 10% of the general population. (It is difficult, however, to get fairly precise numbers due to the French authorities not asking about a person's ethnic or religious identity.)

This current debate calls to mind a ban declared back in 2004 on the wearing of Islamic headscarves and other conspicuous religious symbols in French public schools. This time, if a ban against burqas were to be enacted, would effect the wearing of them outside of the home -- not just in schools.

Sarkozy's cabinet members are divided over the issue. France's secretary of state in charge of regenerating poor urban neighborhoods, feminist Fadela Amara, supports a total ban. Immigration Minister Eric Besson believes that a ban won't work and would only create tensions. Nadine Morano, secretary of state in charge of families, fears that some women would wind up being confined to their homes if they are not allowed to wear burqas.

A government-approved body representing French Muslims spoke out against a ban Saturday, saying it would breach individual freedoms and stigmatise Muslims.

A leading French Muslim group warned against studying the burqa.

[sources: Breitbart and Yahoo]

Gotta love that political INcorrectness of Sarko!!! Wish we had more people like him in our country and around the world.