The Hindu : French debate `secularism' law

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

International

International

French debate `secularism' law

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, FEB. 3. The French Parliament today started a debate on the draft bill banning the wearing of `ostensive' religious symbols in state schools.

Though the wording of the bill does not mention any specific religion, it is seen as an attack primarily on the Islamic headscarf worn by an increasing number of defiant Muslim schoolgirls. France has the Europe's largest Muslim population, estimated at five million, made up mainly by immigrants from France's former colonies in North Africa.

The move to introduce a law against religious symbols in state schools provoked angry response from the Muslims. On Saturday, France's small Sikh community also protested against the law. The so-called `secularism' law, approved by the Cabinet a week ago, states that in schools "the wearing of ostensive signs or clothes which display a pupil's religious affiliation is prohibited". If passed, the law will ban the wearing of headscarves, Sikh turbans, Jewish skull caps and large crosses.

Almost 70 per cent of the population supports such a law. The bill is expected to coast through both Houses of Parliament. The Socialist Party and the Greens that make up the bulk of the Opposition in France have asked for a few amendments. There is every likelihood they will back the Government. Several political and religious figures have, however, expressed concern, arguing that the proposed law is badly drafted, unworkable and inflammatory. On the left, some deputies believe it should be toughened to replace the word `conspicuous' with `visible'.

The French President, Jacques Chirac, told the Government to draft the law in December after accepting the recommendations of a committee of experts which said the separation of religion and state needed to be reinforced. It followed an outcry over the growing numbers of girls reported to be wearing the Islamic headscarf. Confusion over the law's application grew after the Education Minister, Luc Ferry, tried to define what constitutes `conspicuous' religious symbols — including in the list bandanas and even beards if they were deemed to be worn with a religious intent. While most UMP members have lined up behind the bill, some such as the former Prime Minister, Edouard Balladur, have said they will abstain, while Francois Bayrou — who heads the UMP's coalition partner, the Union for French Democracy (UDF), said he would oppose the law because "the disadvantages outweigh the advantages".

The Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, was quoted as warning the Government that the law would damage French relations with predominantly Muslim nations in the Middle East (West Asia) and Asia. However, the Foreign Ministry officially denied he made the remarks. Several politicians have warned that the controversy over the bill is playing into the hands of the far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is hoping to make big electoral gains at regional elections in March.Four members of the Stasi committee whose recommendations led to the law said on Tuesday that the spirit of their report had been betrayed because of an excessive focus on the headscarf in schools.

"The political response is absurd and laughable. It feeds the illusion that all we have to do is vote through a law to solve the problem of integration," said historian Rene Remond in Le Monde newspaper.

"The veil is a decoy which draws attention away from the main issue: France's capacity to integrate its new populations and the willingness of these populations to accept the law. We are in a twist about the problem of an ultra-minority," he said

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