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A Muslim woman in Marseille wore a niqab, which exposed only her eyes. Some in France want to ban such garments. (Associated Press) |
French panel to study issue of burqas
Associated Press
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June 24, 2009
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PARIS - The French Parliament created a commission yesterday to study the wearing of body-covering burqas and niqabs in France, a day after President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Islamic garments turn women into prisoners.
The 32-member commission, with members from France’s four major political parties, will hold hearings that could lead to legislation banning burqas from being worn in public.
Some critics have warned that studying the issue could stigmatize France’s Muslims.
“Banning the burqa will not give freedom to women,’’ Jean-Marie Fardeau, director of the Paris office of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “It will only stigmatize and marginalize women who wear it.’’
France has Western Europe’s largest Muslim population, estimated at 5 million. A small but growing group of French women wear burqas and niqabs, which either cloak the entire body or the hair and face.
On Monday, Sarkozy told lawmakers he supported banning burqas in public, calling them “a sign of debasement’’ for women.
“We cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity,’’ Sarkozy said. “It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.’’
Last week, a group of 60 lawmakers from all political parties signed a petition demanding a parliamentary inquiry on the wearing of burqas.
Muslim groups and government officials say it is difficult to know how many Muslim women wear burqas and niqabs in France, but they estimate the number to be at least in the hundreds. Head scarves are more common attire.
The commission is expected within six months to complete its work, which could lead to a proposed law on burqas.
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
