Vance
12-17-2003, 02:43 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/17/france.headscarves/index.html
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French President Jacques Chirac has called for a law banning religious symbols and clothing in state schools and hospitals.
Chirac's remarks Wednesday came in response to a commission report favoring the banning of Muslim head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses in public schools.
He said he would sponsor legislation to make the ban law by next autumn.
In an address to the nation, Chirac said: "I feel that wearing any kind of symbol that ostensibly shows faith, I feel that that is something that should not be allowed in schools and colleges.
"If we are talking about a star of David, the hand of Fatima or a small cross, those are acceptable, but when it's very obvious, in other words, when if they are worn people can immediately see what religious faith they belong to, that should not be accepted."
Later in his remarks, Chirac said the ban should also apply to hospitals.
And he added: "Nothing can justify that a patient refuses, on principle, to be cared for by a doctor of the opposite ***. The law must consecrate this rule for all the ill who go to a public hospital."
Chirac said the wearing of religious symbols threatened the cohesion of the French people and France's separation of church and state.
"Secularity is one of the republic's great achievements," said Chirac. "It plays a crucial role in social harmony and national cohesion. We must not allow it to be weakened."
He also said he did not favor enacting new state holidays honoring different religions to supplement those holidays already on the books.
Chirac said France, whose Muslim and Jewish populations are the largest in Europe, must remain a multicultural society.
A poll published Wednesday, showed the majority of French people side with Chirac. The poll published in the Paris daily Le Parisien showed 69 percent favor a law banning the wearing of head scarves and other religious symbols.
Although directed at all three religions, the recommendation was seen as being aimed at countering Islamic fundamentalism, The Associated Press reported.
Muslims, who comprise about eight percent of France's population, had urged Chirac not to propose a law to enforce any ban. Christian and Jewish religious leaders have also voiced opposition.
"A law on religious symbols in the school environment could stigmatize a whole community," Dalil Boubakeur, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, told *******.
The topic took on new life after dozens of girls were expelled from school in the past two years for refusing to remove headscarves.
Some human rights groups said they opposed the measure. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights said the law would violate France's commitments to protect freedom of religion, ******* reported.
The group added that a head scarf ban would result in alienation and marginalization of Muslims living in France.
What the hell.
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French President Jacques Chirac has called for a law banning religious symbols and clothing in state schools and hospitals.
Chirac's remarks Wednesday came in response to a commission report favoring the banning of Muslim head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses in public schools.
He said he would sponsor legislation to make the ban law by next autumn.
In an address to the nation, Chirac said: "I feel that wearing any kind of symbol that ostensibly shows faith, I feel that that is something that should not be allowed in schools and colleges.
"If we are talking about a star of David, the hand of Fatima or a small cross, those are acceptable, but when it's very obvious, in other words, when if they are worn people can immediately see what religious faith they belong to, that should not be accepted."
Later in his remarks, Chirac said the ban should also apply to hospitals.
And he added: "Nothing can justify that a patient refuses, on principle, to be cared for by a doctor of the opposite ***. The law must consecrate this rule for all the ill who go to a public hospital."
Chirac said the wearing of religious symbols threatened the cohesion of the French people and France's separation of church and state.
"Secularity is one of the republic's great achievements," said Chirac. "It plays a crucial role in social harmony and national cohesion. We must not allow it to be weakened."
He also said he did not favor enacting new state holidays honoring different religions to supplement those holidays already on the books.
Chirac said France, whose Muslim and Jewish populations are the largest in Europe, must remain a multicultural society.
A poll published Wednesday, showed the majority of French people side with Chirac. The poll published in the Paris daily Le Parisien showed 69 percent favor a law banning the wearing of head scarves and other religious symbols.
Although directed at all three religions, the recommendation was seen as being aimed at countering Islamic fundamentalism, The Associated Press reported.
Muslims, who comprise about eight percent of France's population, had urged Chirac not to propose a law to enforce any ban. Christian and Jewish religious leaders have also voiced opposition.
"A law on religious symbols in the school environment could stigmatize a whole community," Dalil Boubakeur, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, told *******.
The topic took on new life after dozens of girls were expelled from school in the past two years for refusing to remove headscarves.
Some human rights groups said they opposed the measure. The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights said the law would violate France's commitments to protect freedom of religion, ******* reported.
The group added that a head scarf ban would result in alienation and marginalization of Muslims living in France.
What the hell.