Politics of the Veil

In April 2011, a law banning the burqa, a full-body covering that includes a mesh over the face, and the niqab, a full-face veil with an opening for the eyes was put into place in France. The French law imposes a fine of 150 euros (about $205) for wearing the items. The person breaking the law can be asked to carry out public service duty as part of the punishment or as an alternative to the fine. The only nations who have banned the wearing of headwear nationwide are Belgium and France France contains Western Europe’s largest Muslim population, so one could guess that this law would cause a large percent of France to disagree with and protest the law.

In Joan Wallach Scott’s book, The Politics of the Veil, she reflects on the aftermath of the passing of the burqa banning law. In her book, she states, “rather than resolving the problem of integrating Muslims into French society, the law banning headscarves has exacerbated it” Scott draws this conclusion mainly from testimonials she has heard from Muslim women who have experienced the repercussions of this law.  Muslim individuals are arguing that the ban infringes on their ability to live according to their religious faith, culture and personal convictions. A devout Muslim woman had tried to draw on several articles of the convention to make a case against the law. Those articles cover the right to respect for private and family life; the right to respect for freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and the prohibition of discrimination. The French Constitutional Council said in 2010 that the law does not impose disproportionate punishments or prevent the free exercise of religion in a place of worship, finding therefore that "the law conforms to the Constitution”.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of the UK human rights pressure group Liberty, said the ban "has nothing to do with gender equality and everything to do with rising racism in western Europe". "If I go somewhere and need to show my face for security reasons, I do so. It really has never been a problem. Surely there are more important things happening in the world, terrible things in the name of religion, some of those things in the name of Islam, but all more important than this?" Isabelle Niedlispacher, representing the Belgian authorities who introduced a similar full-face veil ban "It's about social communication, the right to interact with someone by looking them in the face and about not disappearing under a piece of clothing".

I feel that Shami Chakrabarti’s argument supports Scott’s statement the best. France thinks it is integrating Muslims into French society, but what it is really doing is punishing and calling out Muslims for dressing differently than everyone else. Instead of making Muslims feel welcome, France is making them feel unaccepted and isolated. I understand that argument and France wanting everyone in the country to be able to live together and not be segregated by veil wearers versus non-veil wearers, but I agree more with the point of view of Scott and the Muslims speaking out against this law. I do not believe that a country should be able to dictate how its citizens dress, especially when they are dressing for their religion. It would be one thing if the country implemented a modesty law in terms of dress or something along those lines, but I believe a law banning religious dress should not be permitted. France allowed these Muslim individuals into the country knowing how they dress, so I do not understand how they are going to change their minds all of a sudden, deciding they no longer want these Muslims who look like they do, in their country. They only want them if they can dress and look more like non-Muslim French citizens.

I believe, especially after the recent attacks on France, that this subject is incredibly touchy. Muslims feel more isolated and targeted now than ever before. Non- Muslim French citizens are growing more and more suspicious and skeptical of Muslims in their country. I understand it is hard for French citizens to accept Muslims right now and not profile them as radical terrorists. It is important though, especially after the passing of this law and in the wake of the recent tragedies, for non-Muslim French citizens to make more of an effort to accept Muslim French citizens.

Bibliography

Kim, W. (2014, July 1). French Muslim women on burqa ban ruling: 'All I want is to live in peace' Retrieved December 12, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/01/french-muslim-women-burqa-ban-ruling