Nicolas Sarkozy, better known as Nicoleon
The discussion on the veil ban is now leading to practical implementation with plans for the veil ban to become effective in the spring. (via. Islamophobia-Watch)
A bill banning the full Muslim veil will be introduced this spring, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Thursday. “A full veil that hides the whole face runs contrary to our idea of free and open social interaction. In a democracy, we don’t live behind a mask. That is why we have decided, with the president to legislate in the spring, ” Fillon said.
While a law against the full veil was already in discussion, no precise calendar had been put forward until now.
“All religions deserve respect, but what should not be respected is aggressive proselytizing, and withdrawing into one’s community”, Fillon told an audience of UMP party activists and supporters, at an electoral meeting in the west of France.
His announcement comes three days ahead of the first round of regional elections which is expected to end in an embarrasing defeat for the ruling party. With the far-right Front National in a position to overtake the UMP, the Prime Minister linked the “burqa legislation” to immigration. “There’s nothing shocking in saying that those who settle here should adopt the heritage of the home of Human Rights”.
According to the media, police research has shown that the full veil is a very limited phenomenon in France, with at most several thousand women, many of them French converts, opting for the attire.
See also Islam Online, 12 March 2010
March 15th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
LOL @ the pic. Sarkozy does have a complex with his self-image, does anyone remember when he was standing on his tippy toes next to Obama?
On a more serious note when is France going to grow up?
March 15th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Sarkozy definitely has a Napoleon complex. I find it hilarious that a man who sleeps with other men’s wives is going to lecture Muslims on social values.
March 15th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here.
As much as I enjoy having a go at the french president as the next englishman.
What has been proposed in the heat of an election may not yet come to pass .
Who ever said that the FN would poll more than the UMP was obviously on the Brandy .
They polled about a third of the UMP OK that is still about 11% more than I would like to see but there you go.
I must admit I did enjoy the picture though
March 16th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Good news for the people of France. I think political symbols that stands for an idiology that wants to subjugate or murder all opponents should be banned from the public. Nobody would complain if a country banned naziuniforms in public.
March 16th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
ROFL who is this “Muhammad” character above?
March 16th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Muhammad, you are troll posing as a muslim, as for the veil it doesn’t represent a fascist idealogy like the Nazi symbol does, and even the Nazi symbol should be allowed to freely expressed if you truly believe in freedom of speech. People like you believe that you should be allowed to insult the prophet and islam and yet you cry foul at the symbol of the swastika, you are a hypocrite.
March 17th, 2010 at 2:37 am
I would complain if they banned wearing Nazi uniforms as the right to look really stupid is basically fundamental in my book.
March 18th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Is the PM for real?!
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said Thursday. “A full veil that hides the whole face runs contrary to our idea of free and open social interaction.”
Exactly! It’s YOUR idea of open social interaction. Shouldn’t everyone have the right to choose their definition of open social interaction, Mr. Prime Minister?
“All religions deserve respect, but what should not be respected is aggressive proselytizing, and withdrawing into one’s community”, Fillon told an audience…
Yeah, I’m sure banning the clothing that makes some women feel comfortable in public won’t cause them to withdraw at all. Good going. Way to encourage interaction!
Sheesh.
March 19th, 2010 at 10:57 am
There have been so many iterations of this topic and issue that there’s really nothing left to say . Any debate would have to be in a series of posted links to older arguments. It’s obvious to rational and well-meaning people who understand what freedom is (that includes most americans) that banning religious clothing is NOT an act in the spirit of unity and egalitarianism. Very few women wear it anyway, and noone is forcing them to. It’s likely they’ll simply isolate themselves or travel with an actual protector in public. This is going to put the Muslims of France, who are already isolated and ghettoized by their economic and educational issues, on the defensive culturally.
The relationship between church and state varies from one 1st world country to another. In the US, where we fear government control, our separation was intended to PROTECT religion from persectuion. In France, where they’ve fought papal control for centuries, the separation is intended to protect the state FROM religion. Unfortunately, the French outlook is such a paranoid anti-religion outlook, that they cannot properly understand the definition of freedom. They’re not just economic socialists, they have a rather stalinist “modernist” bent to their culture.