France Bans Religious Symbols in Public Schools - PhillyBlog

peacemover · #1 (**permalink**) 12-18-2003, 11:32 AM

French President Jacques Chirac recently announced legislation that would ban the display of certain religious symbols in French public schools, including the wearing of head-coverings for Muslims and Jews, and large crosses for Christians. Is this measure reasonable or is it an unfair restriction on personal expression and freedom of religious/cultural expression?

Here's the article (from NY Times):

By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Paris, France
December 18th, 2003

Quote:

Ignoring opposition from Muslim leaders within France and beyond, President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday called for a new law banning the wearing of head scarves for Muslim girls, large crosses for Christians and skullcaps for Jewish boys in public schools.

In a speech at Élysée Palace broadcast live on television, Mr. Chirac recalled centuries of history that, he said, defined France as a guarantor of individual liberty, and said the secular identity of the French state was at stake.

If France succumbs to the demands of its religious communities, Mr. Chirac said, "It would sacrifice its heritage; it would compromise its future; it would lose its soul."

Calling secularism a "pillar of our Constitution," he said that he would urge Parliament to pass the law in time for the start of the next school year, in September 2004.

"In all conscience, I believe that the wearing of dress or symbols that conspicuously show religious affiliation should be banned in schools," Mr. Chirac told an audience of 400 guests, including members of the cabinet and Parliament, representatives of the major political parties and religious, human rights and union leaders.

He added: "The Islamic veil — whatever name we give it — the yarmulke and a cross that is of plainly excessive dimensions: these have no place inside public schools. State schools will remain secular. For that a law is necessary."

Mr. Chirac was responding to an official report presented to him last week on the place of religion in French society and how best to preserve the French republican ideal separating church and state.

Among other proposals from the expert commission Mr. Chirac appointed in July was a recommendation that public schools add religious holidays, like Yom Kippur for Jews and Id al-Kebir for Muslims, a proposal that Mr. Chirac rejected in his speech on Wednesday. More holidays would burden working parents, he said, but he added that students should be able to take time off for their religious holidays, so important exams should not be given on such days.

But Mr. Chirac embraced the commission's recommendation to pass a law banning "conspicuous" religious symbols but allowing "discreet" ones. As the argumentative French news media have been pointing out, there is no indication of who will make that determination, or how.

Mr. Chirac also called for a law to prevent patients from refusing treatment by a doctor or health-care professional of the opposite sex; for the development of the teaching of basic religious facts in schools; for a "code of secularism" for civil servants to use as a guide in the workplace; and for the creation of a watchdog agency to monitor violations.

Although Mr. Chirac spoke about the general need to prevent religion from encroaching into the public sphere, it is the increasing demands of France's growing Muslim population and the wearing of the Islamic veil that has infused the issue with new urgency.

Many schools quietly allow girls to keep their heads covered. But there is a conviction, both within the government and among a large swath of society, that the veil is as much a defiant political challenge as it is a religious display.

At the same time, leaders of the country's Christian and Jewish communities have joined Muslim leaders in criticizing a ban.

The struggle to integrate France's estimated five million Muslims into French society is also a hot-button political issue, one that has been exploited by the far-right National Front, which has criticized the Chirac government for not being tough enough on crime and illegal immigration. Regional elections are scheduled for March, and with the country suffering high unemployment and a poor economy, Mr. Chirac's government has been losing popularity.

In his speech, Mr. Chirac acknowledged the alienation of France's Muslim youth.

"I share the feeling of incomprehension, of disarray and sometimes even of revolt by those young French people — immigrants by origin — whose job applications go into the garbage because of the sound of their names," he said, "and who are too often faced with discrimination when they want to find housing or even get into a place of recreation.

"All the children of France, whatever their background, whatever their origin, whatever their belief, are daughters and sons of the republic."

Mr. Chirac's announcement follows the recent unveiling of draft legislation by the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to ban Muslim teachers from wearing head scarves in public schools.

Article link (requires free NY Times registration):

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/18/in...18FRAN.html?th

Peace,

J

zogby blob · #2 (**permalink**) 12-18-2003, 01:28 PM

I love it, but think it's stupid. However, I think it's fair. In the US, any Christian symbol is banned, but any other religion can do what they want. It's a double standard and this points out the ridiculousness of it.

peacemover · #3 (**permalink**) 12-18-2003, 01:34 PM

My main problem with such a ban is that it infringes upon the personal cultural expression of a significant portion of the French population. For instance, with observant Muslims, according to their beliefs women are not to go out in public without a traditional head covering. The same thing with many conservative and orthodox Jews- they wear a yarmulke, not only as an expression of their religion, but as a deeply personal expression of their cultural identity.

How do either of these expressions infringe on the rights of others?? Answer: they don't. Thus, it is shameful, in my opinion, that they are seeking to impose such a ban.

I must say that it doesn't surprise me in France- where Karl Marx one of the founders of Communism, studied in Paris and met Frederick Engels, then wrote the Communist Manifesto, which basically denounces the expression of any religious expression.

What you suggest about all religious expressions being encouraged except Christian, while it may have held some credence at some point in recent years, I believe is no longer the case.

My wife teaches elementary school here in Philadelphia, and every year they do a unit on holidays and culture where they learn about Hanakkuh, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. If they are presented objectively as one of many forms of expression I think that is totally acceptable. Students may wear personal religious or cultural symbols as long as they do not interfere with the learning environment. Such expressions are a significant part of what it means to cultivate acceptance of diversity.

Peace,

J

Saint Angelo · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2004, 02:01 AM

In consideration to Zogby blob's comment, while it may seem just...the American sense of thought is an eye for an eye...just because Christian groups are not allowed to carry forth with them (the Cross), does not necessarily make it right for the Muslims to be treated in the same regard.

Jacques Chirac, though acting with the intention of stunting discrimination, is actually promoting and instigating the hatred of a number of religious organisations against him. This foolhardy rascal seems to believe he is doing these particular groups a favour unparralleled in history. Instead, he is breaking all ties with religion loosing the support of the ethnical groups inhabiting France.

Undoubtedly, he will lose the next election due to this prepostrous act of utter stupidity!!!

eldondre · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2004, 10:59 AM

do you think there are enough muslims to make a difference? i'd say it's probably supported by the vast majority of French. if it's s ecular society he wants, it won't do having people wear sheets to school. personally, i could care less. if people want to wear sheets, so beit. i do have a problem with covering your face. it seems rather suspicious. why wouldn;t you just dress up like one of these women when robbing a store? when in rome...

zogby blob · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2004, 11:02 AM

Yeah. What if I wanted to wear MY sheet to work? What would you think of that? :wink:

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