"France bans Hijab marks protest by few but justified by many" this was the phrase quoted by most of media after France officially bans women from wearing full-face veils in public places, with a controversial new law coming into effect.Many European countries have drawn up ban on the veil wore by Muslim women but it France irked for a social revolt by putting one in to practice despite of being the country in Europe with the biggest Muslim population.
What next? Belgium's parliament has approved a similar law, but has yet to enforce it. In the Netherlands far-right leaders have proposed a ban, and in Italy the right-wing Northern League is lobbying for a ban on the French model. So France is role mole for European countries who fear of the veil so called hijab.
Where did it really started in Europe? The case goes back to 80's.The issue of Muslim hijabs has sparked controversy after several girls refused to uncover their heads in class.. In October 1989, three Muslim schoolgirls wearing the Islamic headscarf were expelled from the collège Gabriel-Havez in Creil (north of Paris). In November, the First Counseil d'Etat ruling affirmed that the wearing of the Islamic headscarf, as a symbol of religious expression, in public schools was not incompatible with the French school system and the system of laicite. In December, a first ministerial circular (circulaire Jospin) was published, stating teachers had to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to ban the wearing of Islamic headscarf.
In January 1990, three schoolgirls were expelled from the collège Pasteur in Noyon, north of Paris. The parents of one expelled schoolgirl filed a defamation action against the principal of the collège Gabriel-Havez in Creil.
Since 1994, around 100's of girls have been excluded from French state schools for wearing such veils. In half the cases, courts have subsequently overturned the decision.
Women liberation on the go
Back to phobia of Hibaj which is infected the European countries especially France which now become the hero of women liberty by unveiling the veiled women. And all the so called woman liberators have appreciated this act and want this ban in their country as well.
Today, in the post 9/11 world, Muslims the world over feel that they are unfairly discriminated against, and so it is not surprising that they are driving the strongest protests against the new law in France.
What baffles me about all this is the 'why'. Why does France feel the need to pass such a law? Why does the French government think it is relevant in today's world? Let me explain: take the Muslim issue out of the equation for a moment and think about the wider practical implications of the law.
France may be secular, but it is a strongly Catholic country and some state schools are still run by Nuns - does this mean that they will have to remove their habits as well as their crosses and wimples? Should a priest visit a school, will he have to remove his robes? Likewise will a Protestant minister have to remove his dog collar? See my point, even at the most basic level the law is ludicrously impractical.
Practicality apart, any law that dictates what can and cannot be worn is, by definition, one that affects people on a very personal and spiritual level. We are what we wear; whether religious or not, human beings identify their character and beliefs through what they choose to wear. Clothes are representative of class, cultural tradition and character as well as religion and there are few countries in the world that govern dress code by law.
Both Saudi Arabia and Iran are widely criticised by Western secular governments for enforcing the compulsory wearing of the abbaya and hijab by law, yet France, a major Western secular power, is now doing exactly the same thing. It really doesn't matter whether a law demands or prohibits the wearing of an item - it is the fact that such enforcement restricts personal freedom that makes it unpopular.
Today in France if a woman who repeatedly insists on appearing veiled in public can be fined 150 euros ($A205) and ordered to attend re-education classes.
Clearly aimed at fathers, husbands or religious leaders who force women to wear face-veils, and applicable to offences committed in public or in private, the law imposes a fine of 30,000 euros ($A42, 000) and a year in jail. Ah this one is fine. Definitely a person who forces someone else may be his daughter, wife or sister is wrong and should be fined. Now who shall fine these governments who are compelling everyone who likes to veil themselves?
By Misba Fathima
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