After a long debate about "national identity" throughout the past year, the French government has finally put the issue to a vote in the National Assembly. The final vote was a pretty large 355 in favor to 1 against and the rest abstentions. All members from Right and Center-Right parties voted in favor, with 20 from the Left joining.
France24
French lawmakers have approved a bill to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public spaces, despite abstentions from many socialist and Green Party MPs.
The bill will now go to the French Senate, which is expected to approve it in September.
On the right, the "yes" vote was unanimous. The main opposition Socialist Party (PS) largely abstained, as did the Communist Party, with the exception of André Gerin who was one of the bill’s architects.
Altogether, and despite the abstentions, the bill was approved by 335 votes, out a total of 577 MPs. Only one "no" vote was cast.
The bill is popular with voters in a country that has both a tradition of secularism as well as Europe’s largest Muslim population.
The penalty for wearing the burqa in public?
Under the bill, it would be illegal for anyone to cover their faces in public places like streets, parks, public transport or shops.
Fines of 150 euros will be imposed on those caught wearing the veil once a six month grace period to allow time to educate Muslim women about the ban has elapsed.
Men who force their wives or daughters to cover themselves face stiffer penalties of up to 30,000 euros and a one-year jail term.
Note that the ban does not apply to wearing it at home or private. So police will not be going to people's houses to check their dress.
Some cities throughout Europe have banned the burqa already, and Belgium has passed a similar country-wide national law some months ago. This will probably give momentum to other bills being considered throughout Europe.
Now for some background on the issue. I am not an expert in France or European politics, but having lived 2 years in Paris until last October I was around when this issue began to pop up, and I also have some experience with the French culture. This is a bit complicated and perhaps a bit more nuanced than it appears on its face to liberal American eyes, especially because of our first amendment that we all support in absolute terms.
First, yes there is an element of populist demagoguery on this issue. At a time of high unemployment and economic crisis Sarkozy and his UMP party have been steadily losing popularity. The government launched a months-long "national debate" on French identity. It was pretty universally agreed upon that this was a political diversion to change the subject from economic ills. It's a tactic commonly used by unpopular governments. Then came the proposal to ban the burqa. The Socialist opposition pretty much opposed it (though not universally), but as you can see from the abstention vote (rather than voting nay) they weren't exactly the most principled. Why? Banning the burqa is extremely popular.
France undoubtedly has a difficult relationship with its Muslim minority and yes, I can attest to the anti-Muslim feelings of a large part of the population. It's not really a secret. But one thing I also noticed from the moment I stepped in the country is that France is also an extremely secular country. It has probably one of the strongest traditions in Europe of separating Church and State. Their application of this principle makes "our" separation look rather milquetoast. I remember being surprised when I found out that school children are forbidden from wearing any and all religious symbols to school--be it a cross on a necklace, a yarmulke or a veil. French society does not privilege Christianity in the way US society does. The population as a whole is not religious, the numbers of Catholics is dwindling and as you find in most of Europe non-believers make up the majority of the population. In practice this means that overt displays of any kind of religiosity in public are frowned upon. This is why I prefaced that there are nuances in this debate beyond simply anti-Muslim or racist sentiment. Wearing something like a burqa in public is deeply offensive to the French psyche. I think what is true is that if you had a sect of fanatical Christians doing something similar in public you would see opposition in the same way.
I can't say that I am extremely outraged by this. Would I have supported such a law? No. All reports point to only about 2000 or so women who actively wear the burqa in public around all of France. It is objectively not a widespread problem. So this is mostly symbolic. But the burqa is a symbol of the worst kind of oppression towards women. And simply being frank, I cannot get myself to be as outraged by the limit on religious freedom over such a ban as I should be on paper. From a standpoint of what I feel in my gut, I hate everything about the burqa and religious fanaticism from all religions. Does that make me a bad hypocritical liberal? I don't know. But even if only a dozen women are forced to wear this monstrosity, that is a tragedy to me.
At the end of the day the law is going to be appealed and I think it's likely to be overturned.
What do you think about this issue?
UPDATE: I thought I would add a couple of comments about this coming from French people themselves. I picked a selection of comments from the leftist newspaper Libération. With my translation.
j'ai honte pour la gauche!
en refusant de voter cette loi, elle cautionne le port, d'une sorte d'étoile jaune pour les femmes! tout ça pour des raisons électorales! sous le prétexte des droits de l'homme elle bafoue celui de la femme!
I'm ashamed of the Left!
By refusing to vote for this law, they are approving the wearing of a yellow star for women! All that for political reasons! Under the pretext of human rights they offend those of women!
So what ?
Bien sûr que personne n'adore ce déguisement clownesque et sectaire, mais cette loi populiste est crétine. Elle est juste destinée à caresser dans le sens du poil les mimiles frontistes et les éternels terrifiés de tout ce qu'ils ne connaissent pas. De toutes façons elle ne sera jamais appliquée. Quel flic va se risquer à arrêter et verbaliser ces femmes entourées de barbus?...
Of course nobody loves this clownish and sectarian disguise, but this populist law is moronic. The law is designed to appeal and pander to Front National supporters and those who are always terrified of what they don't know. In any event, it won't be enforced. What cop is gonna risk arresting these women surrounded by bearded [men]?
ET VOTRE SOLUTION ?
Puisque cette loi est "crétine" selon vous, que proposez-vous ? Si on laisse faire cela en Europe aujourd'hui, on est morts. Et ça n'a rien à voir avec le FN, ça a à voir avec la liberté, l'égalité, les droits de l'Homme (qui incluent ceux de la femme), le respect, le vivre-ensemble, etc.
And your solution is?
Since according to you this law is "moronic" what do you propose? If we let this happen in Europe, we are dead. And it has nothing to do with the Front National, it has to do with liberty, equality, and human rights (which include those of women), respect, peaceful coexistance etc.
Je me réjouis
de lire les réactions outragées du seul et unique grand lobby religieux, l'organisation de la conférence islamique, qui défend des droits de l'homme compatibles avec la charia.
I am so happy to read the outraged reactions of the only great religious lobby, the organization of the Islamic Conferece, who defend human rights compatible with sharia law
ah! en voilà une bonne idée!
si seulement notre président pouvait se voiler aussi ! ah!!! le rêve!!!...ne plus voir ce nabot...mais bon.
Now there's a good idea!
If only our president could also veil himself too! Oh the dream! Not having to see this midget again...oh well.
Most of the reaction is negative against this law.