Franco-British differences in terrorism and hijab

Submitted by Natalie Cohn (Israel), Jul 12, 2005 at 10:53

The article's explanation for the difference between British and French responses to the hijab fails to take into account the single most important factor: radically opposed understandings of secularism and the separation of church and state, not the fact that the French are "holding on to their historic culture". In France, public dispays of religious affiliation are viewed as backward, in the case of the hijab- sexist, and contrary to the almost religious principle of separation of religious and civilian life.

Whether France's response to the hijab may not alienate its local muslim population and create more French-bred muslim terrorists, as Zaccaria Massaoui, has yet to be understood. Linking France's prohibition on the veil and its "success" against terrorism is not convincing.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".