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Discuss this article (154 Comments)Sarkozy says burqa 'not welcome' in France
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 23 June 2009
zoomBURQA CONTROVERSY: French president Nicolas Sarkozy says the burqa is not welcome in France. (Getty Images)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that women wearing the burqa would not be accepted on French territory.
“The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem, it is a problem of the dignity of women. It is a symbol of subservience, of submission," he said in a speech which he himself called “an important moment”.
“The burqa will not be welcome in our French republic," Sarkozy said during his address on Monday before a joint session of the two houses of Parliament in Versailles.
Sarkozy became the first French head of state to address lawmakers in 150 years.
Sarkozy’s comments on the burqa were inspired by a resolution introduced last week, and now signed by 80 lawmakers, calling for the creation of a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the wearing of the burqa on French territory, Gulf Times reported on Tuesday.
A burqa is the most concealing of all Islamic veils as it covers the entire face and body, leaving only a mesh screen to see through.
The speech came as Qatar and France held a session of official talks in Paris, chaired by the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and Sarkozy.
The two sides discussed means of promoting and boosting bilateral ties, and reviewed a set of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
READERS' COMMENTS
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It has everything to do with religion ...
Posted by UAE National Woman, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
France decided to be a secular state - so why is it now bringing religion back into politics? Of course it has to do with religion. Specifically, Islam. If Sarkozy feels that Muslim women who travel to France on their holidays or live in France for work/eduction are being suppressed by "the evil of Religious bigotry," he's wrong. If he feels he must free the Muslim women of this "burden," then why not "save the nuns or men who follow Sikhism?" Why stop at the burqa? I do agree with you on the point you posed regarding the Dark Ages. But my fear is that these days are the darkest of ages is yet to come.
Posted by UAE National Woman, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 10:11 UAE time
France decided to be a secular state - so why is it now bringing religion back into politics? Of course it has to do with religion. Specifically, Islam. If Sarkozy feels that Muslim women who travel to France on their holidays or live in France for work/eduction are being suppressed by "the evil of Religious bigotry," he's wrong. If he feels he must free the Muslim women of this "burden," then why not "save the nuns or men who follow Sikhism?" Why stop at the burqa? I do agree with you on the point you posed regarding the Dark Ages. But my fear is that these days are the darkest of ages is yet to come.
Regarding Freedom and Western Civilization
Posted by Charlie, Manila, Philippines on Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 21:34 UAE time
Perhaps we have to look back where Western Europe generally and France particularly comes from.
There was a time in western civilization called Dark Age. It was the era of Religious bigotry perpetuated by Roman Catholics is Rome.
It took centuries before Western Europe was emanciapated from Religious bigotry and gain Freedom from abuse by the Papacy in Rome.
It is for this reason that Western Europe wanted so much to be secular, separation between the state and religion because Western Europe knows the evil of Religious bigotry. And France for that matter, will see to it that no more will religion supress the Freedom that the forefathers of Western Europe fought so hard to gain.
This is more on understanding civilization and acceptance of the uniqueness that each civilization has offered to humanity.
It has nothing to do with Religion.
Posted by Charlie, Manila, Philippines on Tuesday 30 June 2009 at 21:34 UAE time
Perhaps we have to look back where Western Europe generally and France particularly comes from.
There was a time in western civilization called Dark Age. It was the era of Religious bigotry perpetuated by Roman Catholics is Rome.
It took centuries before Western Europe was emanciapated from Religious bigotry and gain Freedom from abuse by the Papacy in Rome.
It is for this reason that Western Europe wanted so much to be secular, separation between the state and religion because Western Europe knows the evil of Religious bigotry. And France for that matter, will see to it that no more will religion supress the Freedom that the forefathers of Western Europe fought so hard to gain.
This is more on understanding civilization and acceptance of the uniqueness that each civilization has offered to humanity.
It has nothing to do with Religion.
If you don't understand Islam, don't discuss it.
Posted by UAE National Woman, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday 29 June 2009 at 21:49 UAE time
I find it hard to believe that some of the comments I have skimmed through have mentioned that the burqa is forced upon women and it symbolizes submission by the Muslim women. I will not deny that there are some men that abuse their women in the name of Islam. However, that is not Islam and in our religion, they are not regarded as true Muslims. Islam requires women to cover their hair and body in modest clothing. That is a requirement. What a Muslim woman can do in addition to the basic requirements is cover her face. The basic requirements of Islam are clear and have never/will never be changed. Living in the UAE, we have had to "become a world citizen" and allow foreign men and women to dress as they please and act as though they were not in a Muslim country. I'm sure Sarkozy would not approve a law in the UAE that would arrest women for not wearing the hijab or abaya. The idea that has been adopted from the West that empowerment of women means posing nude for a magazine is ridiculous. Muslim women have all of their rights secured (I must re-state that I do understand that there are women that have been abused "in the name of Islam" - but again, in Islam, the offenders are not complying with the religion) under our religion. Sarkozy does not have the right to speak on behalf of Muslim women. He should not be able to pass a law like this. However, I do understand the comment previously made "When in Rome, do as the Romans & if you don't want to, don't go to Rome." It is a known fact that the summer season where the women of the GCC head to cities like London or France, is the "high season" for the shopping/tourism sector of those countries. In a time where "the light has been turned off at the end of the tunnel" regarding financial markets, let's just wait and see what impact this has on France's economy and political future.
Posted by UAE National Woman, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday 29 June 2009 at 21:49 UAE time
I find it hard to believe that some of the comments I have skimmed through have mentioned that the burqa is forced upon women and it symbolizes submission by the Muslim women. I will not deny that there are some men that abuse their women in the name of Islam. However, that is not Islam and in our religion, they are not regarded as true Muslims. Islam requires women to cover their hair and body in modest clothing. That is a requirement. What a Muslim woman can do in addition to the basic requirements is cover her face. The basic requirements of Islam are clear and have never/will never be changed. Living in the UAE, we have had to "become a world citizen" and allow foreign men and women to dress as they please and act as though they were not in a Muslim country. I'm sure Sarkozy would not approve a law in the UAE that would arrest women for not wearing the hijab or abaya. The idea that has been adopted from the West that empowerment of women means posing nude for a magazine is ridiculous. Muslim women have all of their rights secured (I must re-state that I do understand that there are women that have been abused "in the name of Islam" - but again, in Islam, the offenders are not complying with the religion) under our religion. Sarkozy does not have the right to speak on behalf of Muslim women. He should not be able to pass a law like this. However, I do understand the comment previously made "When in Rome, do as the Romans & if you don't want to, don't go to Rome." It is a known fact that the summer season where the women of the GCC head to cities like London or France, is the "high season" for the shopping/tourism sector of those countries. In a time where "the light has been turned off at the end of the tunnel" regarding financial markets, let's just wait and see what impact this has on France's economy and political future.
Level of tolerence
Posted by Professor of truth, GCC, GCC on Sunday 28 June 2009 at 09:52 UAE time
I could find quite a lot of participants howling from roof tops about the high level tolerance to western clothing exhibited by the Arab nationals especially women!!! I hope these gentlefolk get rid of the ostrich syndrome or the head in sand syndrome, for they need to publicly acknowledge truth. As an Asian expat in the GCC, I know how much the Arab women crave for western clothing. The body hugging and front open Burkhas speak volumes about their liking for it and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The modern Arab woman craves for more freedom but, that for sure has got nothing to do with her religious affinity. Most of the Arab women I know, despite wearing western outfits perform Namaz and observe fast.. So how do they become any lesser muslims?? More over, the men have all the freedom and no rule stipulates them to not to wear western clothing!!!!!!!!!!!!
How I wish if religion is not abused like this!!!!!!!
Posted by Professor of truth, GCC, GCC on Sunday 28 June 2009 at 09:52 UAE time
I could find quite a lot of participants howling from roof tops about the high level tolerance to western clothing exhibited by the Arab nationals especially women!!! I hope these gentlefolk get rid of the ostrich syndrome or the head in sand syndrome, for they need to publicly acknowledge truth. As an Asian expat in the GCC, I know how much the Arab women crave for western clothing. The body hugging and front open Burkhas speak volumes about their liking for it and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The modern Arab woman craves for more freedom but, that for sure has got nothing to do with her religious affinity. Most of the Arab women I know, despite wearing western outfits perform Namaz and observe fast.. So how do they become any lesser muslims?? More over, the men have all the freedom and no rule stipulates them to not to wear western clothing!!!!!!!!!!!!
How I wish if religion is not abused like this!!!!!!!
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