Ban on veils
France wants a new law
Imagine if your government controlled what you could and couldn’t wear.
These Muslim women are wearing veils covering their face and hair. But now French Government wants to introduce a ban on wearing veils in some public places.
Muslim women would not be allowed to cover their face in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport. It is proposed that women wearing a veil in those places could be refused the services on offer there.
The French government says, “The face veil has too many negative connotations. It is a symbol of the repression of women. It is against French republican principles.” The ban is likely to come into force during the next few months.
With over five million Muslims living in France, it is home to the largest Muslim population in Western Europe. However, the government estimates that only around 1,900 Muslim women actually wear a veil.
According to opinion polls, the majority of French people are in favour of a ban. Some politicians, think it would be too difficult to enforce such a ban. The Socialist Party says, “We are opposed to the veil. It is a prison for women and has no place in France. But a ban would not work.”
This is not the first time that France has taken steps to prevent people from wearing religious items. In 2004, they banned all ‘conspicuous’ religious symbols in state schools and government offices, this included Muslim head scarves, Christian crosses and Jewish skull caps.
Turkey has had a ban on veils for over 85 years. Women cannot wear veils in schools or universities or if they work in government jobs.
But is it fair to dictate what another person wears?
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Is it right to tell a person what they should and shouldn’t wear?
Do women wear veils in your country?
Do you wear a symbol of your religion?
Women wearing veils in France (M. Gangne/AFP/Getty Images)
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1 February 2010 at 15:25
In my opinion it is not right to tell anybody what they should or shouldn't wear.. ridiculous. what should they do now, If their religion says, that they have to wear it? In my country women don't wear veils, but if I lived in France, it wouldn't bother me. I also wear a symbols of my religion- cross or rosary. Fortunately, I live in Poland and I don't have to hide or leave it at home.
1 February 2010 at 15:45
I am on the same page, Mefiu. I wear cross and medal with Holy Mary too and I cannot imagine that sb forbids me to do it! I also live in Poland, Women don't wear veils in my city (and country). What about telling anybody what he or she should or shouldn't wear? The only person who can have a bearing on it are young kid's parents- nobody else. :p
1 February 2010 at 18:17
In my country women don't wear veils, so that problem isn't regards me directly. But I think that it is stupid, to prohibits people wear what they want. I usually wear a symbol of my religion... often I wear it upon the shirt or blouse. Sometimes that narks people, but I don't care about it. I think that every of us, can be oneself and no one can change it.
1 February 2010 at 18:45
France - place where the idea of freedom were born, now government trying to ban veils? This is realy unacceptable. I think that the France administration want to control nation. For example: act that allow to ban internet to people who where downloading illegal software (it is popularly called as HADOPI). On the oder side - country have to fight aginst criminals but this is not justifiably way.
1 February 2010 at 18:47
Oh my... I can't stand it when I hear about something like that. I know that probably it's for public safety, but to ban traditions? Sometimes I think that people are only pretending to be more tolerant, and instead they are less tolerant with every year. Where is respect for others? It's definitely not right to ban it or even tell them what they should wear. I haven't ever seen any women in a veil (at least I don't remember). But I don't judge people by their clothes, even if they represent some sort of religion. And to answer the last question... No, I don't wear a symbol of my religion, because there is no symbol for me. Religion is something which gives me strength to face this world and hope for the afterlife. But it doesn't mean that I have to show everyone what I believe in. I could wear one. But I don't want to be basted by anybody ;P I wouldn't be wise.
1 February 2010 at 19:24
I'm hardly against such law as that one, which bans wearing a veil. I'm a Christian and I'm proud of it. I always wear a cross on my neck and I can't imagine that someone order me to hide or take it away! Of coure, when I'm vivsiting temple of another religion I do my best to not offend believers. I know that in Abrabian countries women have little rights and are discriminated. But France in my opinion, is simply discriminating Muslim women as well.I can't believe that government don't see the other side of the coin. When they bring in that ridiculous law, Muslim women will have less freedom. And what was France saying? Liberte, egalite e fraternite - freedom, equality and brotherhood.
2 February 2010 at 16:16
It seems to me that banning women to wear their veils is infair, because their religion makes them do it. Boasting with the symbols of religion isn;t good, but if anybody isn;t imposing on you his faith, I think his alterity should be respected.
2 February 2010 at 18:55
i f they want to were veils so let them they dont hurt anybody!!!!!!
2 February 2010 at 19:33
i think that everyone want do what he/she wants..it's the reality... No state,no person can decide for another person... There are People of a different religion in states that have a different religion..these states has accept these people,and now they must accept their religion...
2 February 2010 at 21:35
There is no unequivocal answer to the question " is it fair or not?", because France is a laic country and we (and french citizens) have to accept such law.It's genuinly not right to forbid other person to wear religion symbols. banning wearing a veil, for example, is not fair on the ethical grounds and people should tolerant the otherss' belief and culture.We are people and we always make new borders that seperate us all.And for what? What is the reason? And aim? If we live togheter we don't need to try to make others adjusted to our requirements.In Poland we can't see a woman in vail, but wearing religious symbols is not forbidden.Seems to me that this ban won't be very efficient, too.What concerns me, I don't wear religious symbols.
2 February 2010 at 22:21
Nowadays, the majority of us live in a free society. Europe is a place where all of people should feel comfortable. That's why, in my view, nobody should tells others if they may show their religiousness or not. I am happy that I live in a country where we don't have to hide our personal opinions or beliefs. On the other hand, the huge part of Poles are Christian, so most of us have similar opinion about the most important cases concerning religion. I hope that someday all people understand that everybody should be able to express their belief- of course if it doesn't hurt anyone.
3 February 2010 at 14:25
Obviously,telling someone what to do and in this particular case what to wear is against the freedom of each person.However,in my view the law the french goverment wants to introduce it's not so bad...Besides it will be in force only for some public places.Veils seem to me to be a kind of prison for women and something like that has no place in an european country.On the other hand, veils are a part of their religion and so the french goverment should respect this fact as nowadays we have religious toleration. In my country,Muslim woman are alowed to wear veils.I ,and all Orthodox Christians, don't wear a specific symbol of my religion...only a cross on my neck......
3 February 2010 at 15:10
I don't think that a veil is a symbol of the repression of women. But I do understand you want to see another face. I also understand you want to hide (or protect) your face for you religion. So I don't think you have to introduce a ban on wearing veils in some public places. I think the rector of a school or something has to decide he wants veils in his school or not.
3 February 2010 at 17:02
i think everybody r independant to choose what they want...
3 February 2010 at 19:17
I think that nobody can say to other person what they must do or wear : it's a personal choice. But we also must let the choice of doing what they want to do. So if this woman wanted to wear the burqa, ok, it's her choice. But, if it's her husband who say it, I don't agree... I'm a muslim, and the man cannot forces his woman to do anything... They both are human, and they both have the choice to do what they want to do... ;)
3 February 2010 at 20:42
Religion is individual thing, For some people it is the most important thing in their life. It is not fair that government wants to control peoples belief. Their face veil is not reason for shame and it doesn't mean that women are weaker. Wearing this religious symbol is their own free choice. We all know that without tolerance creating a friendly world is impossible.
4 February 2010 at 20:22
In my country there are many muslim women and they do wear veils. But fortunately there isn't a law which forbids women wear a veil. I consider this ban that France wants to establish, as a huge discrimination for the other religions... And I wear a symbol of my religion but I don't consider it as an important thing. So what I'm trying to say is that everyone can wear anything he wants no matter what his religion is.
5 February 2010 at 14:49
I think, it is just fair. Muslim families come here because life is easier here than in their countries. But if they want to move here, they should take the cnsequences. Perhaps they should change their way of life completly and maybe they would like the change. But if I moved to a Muslim country, I would have to wear a veil. So, why should they tell us what to wear, when we can't tell them.
6 February 2010 at 10:52
In my opinion, everybody should do want he or she want. Muslims, who live in Europe are still Muslims, so they can show it. If women want to wear veils, she should can still do it. Christians also should can show it. France is a free country, like most of countries in Europe, so people should do, what they want and no one can ban it. In Poland Christian crosses are still hanging. Some politicians try to change it, but I think, that everything will stay unchanged. No one also forbid symbols of other religions, like Islam or Judaism.
6 February 2010 at 16:26
I think it isn't right to tell a person what they should and shouldn’t wear. It's us problem what we wear. Goverment cannot making refus us abut this.. it's stupid. I think France is intolerant country, so i was't suprised when i read abut it. I don't know if women wear veils in my country. i don't see that. Yes, I sometimes wear a cross.
6 February 2010 at 18:20
I think, that goverment shouldn't dictate, what people may wear or not even, if these clothes express their religious beliefs. It is our personal cause. But on the other hand, veil is really the symbol of repression of women. In muslim culture women are discrimined and cannot have their own views. Nobody ask them, if they want to wear a veil. They wear, because men make them do it.So, perhaps the french ban wil be better for muslim women...
7 February 2010 at 09:12
EUROPE IS NOWADAYS VERY VARIOUS AND IN MY OPINION IT IS BEUTIFULL. I can't all the more understand, why some gouverments want to change and deatroy it. In Europe are living Muslims, Christians and Jews. They live here for a long, long time and they are a part of European culture. They can do whatever they want, because they are free people and the Europe is a free part of free world. In my opinion everything should remain unchanged.
7 February 2010 at 14:20
I think that is ridiculous banning things like that. For my it is a pure discrimination. I thought that we have got a freedom of word, religion etc. For Muslim women wearing veils is very important. It is a part of their belief so we must respect it.
7 February 2010 at 19:37
In my opinion nobody shouldn't forbide you wearing that what you want to wear, it's an idividual issue for all of us and government ought to respect it, particullary respect our religious traditions.
7 February 2010 at 23:52
I consider that banning on wearing veils do not change fact that Muslim women are repressed, because that outlawry concerns only 1,900 Muslim, who lived in France. It is a really small proportion, just drop in the ocean. By contrast, maybe it is a small stride that begins positive change in this strict "men's world"?
8 February 2010 at 00:00
On the other hand, we have to admit that France is a laic country and not only Muslims must comply the law about religious symbols, also Jews and Christians, etc. In my opinion nobody should suggest me what I am capable of wearing or not!
8 February 2010 at 17:14
For me nowadays it's one of the most complicated problems of the whole world. In my opinion everyone should have the ability to wear whatever they want, but not to flaunt their beliefs. I think ecmacka got it completely right, although I'm aware of the fact that religion is a bit of a hot potato in worldwide politics. Arab people's mentalities can also be a problem when discussing ethical subjects.
9 February 2010 at 07:07
My opinion is that ordering people what they should and shouldn't wear is against democracy. European countries which are proud of being modern, envolving and tolerant in reality discriminate their citizens becouse of e.x. religion. I have never seen women wearing veils in Poland. However, substantial part of people in our country wear symbols of Catholicism. I also wear cross and a ring with a picture of Mother of God on it. If our government prohibite us wearing signs of our religion I would ignore it. Nobody is allowed to change our personalities.
9 February 2010 at 07:13
I thing that banning wearing our religion symbols is repression our personality. We should be able to show in what we believe. In our country it's not prohibited, however, our government wanted to change it. It was the worst thing this year. I trust it will not come back, because people are allowed to wear what they want: veils or crosses... who doesn't like it? Only really intolerant person, who even doesn't know, what he wants.
9 February 2010 at 11:45
We must respect another people and their beliefs. For me this is the most important rule.
9 February 2010 at 14:13
I think that it isn't fair to dictate what another person wears. I'm veiled, nobody forbade me to wear him and I am proud to practise my religion
9 February 2010 at 14:54
I guess that everybody says that it's not fair to forbid someone to wear what he want to. I also sympathize with this view and I think that people should be more tolerant and more understanding.
10 February 2010 at 07:29
I really don't know, why governments want to change tradition. If, as Oluchna said, everybody says that it's not fair, why there is so much complications. Yes, people should understand, that their religion and belief isn't the only one.
10 February 2010 at 12:36
Everyone is different so we must respect it. When we don't do it, we make a very huge mistake which can be very dangerous.
11 February 2010 at 19:21
in my opinion it is an evident way of not complying with human rights. I can't imagine that someone can tell what I should and shouldn't wear. One of the most interesting things about people are their differences. No one is allowed to change it.
12 February 2010 at 19:43
Yes, I agree with you. There is law, that says that everybody CAN practise his own religion, and that means that he CAN wear veil, cross and whatever he wants.
Rubilina
14 February 2010 at 18:55
I guess this a really controversial issue. Everybody can get dressed how he/she prefers but, what´s the limit? Few months ago, in Spain, a Muslim woman was forced to take off her veil to testify in a court against her will. She refused but she had to obey the law. In public places you must identify easily and you can´t if you go cover-faced. The problem is when you are outside. I respect each religion but this short of clothing attempt on women rights. It must be truly harsh to see the life through such a little hollow.
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