Octavio - Headscarves in France

Submitted by Sidda (United States), Feb 23, 2006 at 11:05

Octavio, the "headscarf in France" issue is often brought up by Muslims as an example of "Western intolerance." However, that assertion is false.

I have family in France and have learned from them the story of the headscarves which is sometimes not reported accurately even in the U.S. For some years now, fundamentalist Muslims have been harassing students in the schools who did not wear the headscarf. The wearing of the headscarf was also becoming more and more of a political statement than simply a religious garb. This was causing tension and disruption in the schools. Because of that, France decided to ban the wearing of headscarves, AS WELL AS, Sikh turbans, Jewish yarmulke, and Christian crosses.

IOW, no outward religious symbols for any religion are now allowed in secular public schools. This law applies only to the public schools and not religious-based schools or any places, public or private, outside of the schools. There is no discrimination involved in this law.

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