French bid to ban veils worries allies and tourists

Ashley Bennerson
9/9/2010
1:54 p.m.


France plans to do away with burqa-style veils. A bill to get rid of face veils, which is seen upholding French republican values, is expected to win Senate approval this month. It's a challenge for a country that works persistently to protect its global diplomatic influence, its secular ideals, and its status as the world's top tourist destination. Ensuring gender equality, woman's dignity and security are the official reasons France wants to outlaw Islamic veils, most often worn as "niqabs" that hide all but the eyes. Authorities claim the global ban which would include, visiting foreigners is not anti-Muslim. Muslim leaders in France and elsewhere agree that Islam does not require women to cover their faces, but many are uncomfortable with banning the veil. Lots of religious leaders are struggling with what to advise the faithful. Other European countries like Belgium are considering similar legislation and Muslim countries like Syria and Egypt have instituted their own limited bans on face veils. Some of France's closest allies, Britain and the United States, both with large Muslim populations, are among those who publicly disagree with Paris.
The reason behind France plans to do away with veils, makes the women of the country feel more valued and respected as women. Outlawing veils could be the door opener for women to acquire more rights and be seen as equal to men. Though it has been established that women aren’t required to wear veils, deciding to wear them should be the woman’s choice. Values should be determined by the person themselves, so therefore France is allowing wearing veils to become a personal choice.


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