Under proposals from a cross-party Parliamentary Commission in France today, Muslim women face a ban on full veils on French transport and in other public services by the end of this year. MPs predicted that a law outlawing burqas or other face covering in state services could very well pass into law within months in France. While stopping short of a full ban, the proposed ban would require people show their faces when entering any public service, including transport, universities, hospitals, job centres, post offices and so on. They would have to “keep the face uncovered throughout their presence”. Failure to do so would result “in a refusal to deliver the service demanded”.
President Sarkozy, the Commission, and a good number of Parliament members posit that the “wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic, … [and] unacceptable.” They argue that full veils are a breach of women’s equality and a rejection of France’s egalitarian values.
This, of course, is excellent, albeit specious and hypocritical reasoning, that populist France seems to be eating right up. If a government or a country actually gave a shit about women’s equality, it would take under consideration the privacy and liberty Muslim women can often find in being veiled. It would also take into account the religious practices and beliefs of its citizens, and understand that part of being an egalitarian state means respect for and tolerance of various religions within your country. And if, as some will note, the issue is the sexist and discriminatory nature of certain religions, then I would like to remind them that a state, or any other governing or authoritative body, limiting or deciding women’s choices for them, in any capacity, is equally sexist. Because choice includes the option to veil one’s self.
But of course, in a time of xenophobia, racism, and utter panic for the ruling, conservative (and often white) members of our society, we must pander to alleviate their fears and enable them to regain power and control. Women’s rights, democracy, and egalitarian values are just the latest phrases being employed in this game of manipulation.
If an ideological argument is used to justify the ban of veils I think that is truly unfair. But I do think the veils pose a security hazard for the French. Especially considering the amount of Muslim immigrants in the country.