TakingITGlobal - Panorama

Published on: Dec 4, 2003

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2443

A considerable amount of the world’s population, Muslims and none-Muslims were concerned about the issue of banning the Islamic Hijab or veil in the French public schools last month. A French lady was speaking about that issue, on the behalf of the French ministry of education two days ago. She said that the French secular government has the right to educate its French students in a secular matter, which implies preventing those students from wearing anything that reflects on their “religious” background, or that represent a future source of “propaganda, family-imposition, fanaticism and terrorism”. (As she had said) She added that the restriction on the veil in the French public school is in the essence, a way to maintain the secular aspect of the French Republic, and that the ministry of education will not revert its decision because of a “minority of schoolgirls” who do not like this new regulation.

Well, first let’s stick to the last words the French spokeswoman said; about that “minority of schoolgirls” who have chosen to practice their religion, even if they were prevented from going to school. But, is-not going to school-a reasonable solution? Why aren’t the other “majority” of students who use items such as neck crosses and tattoos, and have a kaleidoscope of hairstyles referring to their “religious” backgrounds having an equal treatment? What is the problem if everybody practices his/her own religious beliefs while living in peace and harmony with his/her society? Are Muslim schoolgirls in Europe a negligible “minority”? Isn’t Islam the fastest growing religion of the world today, and in few years, this minority will become bigger and bigger? Do they have to be Catholics in order to be French? Has the French Government gone in breach of the three main principles of the French Revolution: Liberty, Equity, and Brotherhood? Does being secular mean to be “communist” and prevent people from worshipping in the way they believe? Does this mean that while sexual and homosexual exploitations, naturist organizations, prostitution, and pornography are all O.K. and legal, Muslim schoolgirls are prevented from covering their heads? Is it a governmental policy or what is it? Will the next step be the complete restriction of headscarves in all of the French Public sector organisms? Why does this law apply only in France, and not in Germany, the UK, or the USA? Are the latter regimes more or less secular, or are their lawmakers considering the veil as a personal liberty? Has the French lawmaker judged that every veiled girl is obliged to put the headscarf by her parents, and not because of her faith? Does limiting this restriction on the Islamic veil make sound of what a neighboring country-Spain-used to do -under similar excuses- in its 13th century inspection courts against Andalusia’s Muslims?

If the French Republic has accepted in many centuries to rule vast areas of the world, then it have at least, as a reconciliation-and instead to being annoyed by headscarves-, to respect the religious beliefs of people who ethnically belong to those ex-colonies, and who currently belong, however, to the French society. If the lawmaker in any country doesn’t know well about the composition of his/her society, its beliefs, customs, rituals, and begin to build consequences on his/her own prejudices, then some of the “minorities” will have to look for another country, where they can practice their daily life activities, side by side with their religious beliefs, that guide them, without having laws that prevent them from practicing their religion, in the most personal way.

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by Ayman El Hakea
Published on: Dec 4, 2003
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2443


A considerable amount of the world’s population, Muslims and none-Muslims were concerned about the issue of banning the Islamic Hijab or veil in the French public schools last month. A French lady was speaking about that issue, on the behalf of the French ministry of education two days ago. She said that the French secular government has the right to educate its French students in a secular matter, which implies preventing those students from wearing anything that reflects on their “religious” background, or that represent a future source of “propaganda, family-imposition, fanaticism and terrorism”. (As she had said) She added that the restriction on the veil in the French public school is in the essence, a way to maintain the secular aspect of the French Republic, and that the ministry of education will not revert its decision because of a “minority of schoolgirls” who do not like this new regulation. Well, first let’s stick to the last words the French spokeswoman said; about that “minority of schoolgirls” who have chosen to practice their religion, even if they were prevented from going to school. But, is-not going to school-a reasonable solution? Why aren’t the other “majority” of students who use items such as neck crosses and tattoos, and have a kaleidoscope of hairstyles referring to their “religious” backgrounds having an equal treatment? What is the problem if everybody practices his/her own religious beliefs while living in peace and harmony with his/her society? Are Muslim schoolgirls in Europe a negligible “minority”? Isn’t Islam the fastest growing religion of the world today, and in few years, this minority will become bigger and bigger? Do they have to be Catholics in order to be French? Has the French Government gone in breach of the three main principles of the French Revolution: Liberty, Equity, and Brotherhood? Does being secular mean to be “communist” and prevent people from worshipping in the way they believe? Does this mean that while sexual and homosexual exploitations, naturist organizations, prostitution, and pornography are all O.K. and legal, Muslim schoolgirls are prevented from covering their heads? Is it a governmental policy or what is it? Will the next step be the complete restriction of headscarves in all of the French Public sector organisms? Why does this law apply only in France, and not in Germany, the UK, or the USA? Are the latter regimes more or less secular, or are their lawmakers considering the veil as a personal liberty? Has the French lawmaker judged that every veiled girl is obliged to put the headscarf by her parents, and not because of her faith? Does limiting this restriction on the Islamic veil make sound of what a neighboring country-Spain-used to do -under similar excuses- in its 13th century inspection courts against Andalusia’s Muslims? If the French Republic has accepted in many centuries to rule vast areas of the world, then it have at least, as a reconciliation-and instead to being annoyed by headscarves-, to respect the religious beliefs of people who ethnically belong to those ex-colonies, and who currently belong, however, to the French society. If the lawmaker in any country doesn’t know well about the composition of his/her society, its beliefs, customs, rituals, and begin to build consequences on his/her own prejudices, then some of the “minorities” will have to look for another country, where they can practice their daily life activities, side by side with their religious beliefs, that guide them, without having laws that prevent them from practicing their religion, in the most personal way. « return.