Paris — France took a decisive step Tuesday toward banning Islamic head scarves from public schools, with legislators overwhelmingly backing the government's drive to preserve French secularism from Islamic fundamentalism.
Legislators voted by a massive 494-36 margin to approve the controversial ban on head scarves and other religious apparel — despite protests and criticism from around the world that the measure infringes on religious freedom.
The legislation goes to the Senate, where little opposition is anticipated, in early March. It is expected to be implemented for the 2004-2005 school year that starts in September.
The bill got far more than the 288 votes needed to pass in the 577-seat National Assembly, a measure of its popularity within France, demonstrated repeatedly in public opinion polls.
"The Republic and secularism are strengthened," said Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, hailing "the magnitude of this vote."
French leaders hope the legislation will quell the debate over head scarves that has divided France since 1989, when two young girls were expelled from their school in Creil, outside Paris, for wearing head scarves. Scores more have been expelled since then.
The bill stipulates that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden." It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries.
The legislation does not spell out what apparel would be banned, but it targets Islamic head scarves, as well as Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses.
Sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious symbols and clothing would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.
The government argues that a law is needed to protect France's secular traditions and to ward off rising Islamic fundamentalism.
"This law is for us indispensable," said Martine David, a Socialist legislator. Teachers "need a clear judicial framework."
Parliament's majority party, President Jacques Chirac's Union for a Popular Movement, agreed Thursday to a last-minute amendment by the Socialists that calls for an evaluation of the law a year after it takes effect.
Legislators want the option, if necessary, of being able to alter language banning "conspicuous" symbols to "visible" ones — in order to eliminate vagueness or ambiguity.
The governing UPM party also added an amendment to ensure that mediation takes place before any sanctions are imposed, another Socialist suggestion.
France has been widely condemned in the Arab and Muslim world, where thousands of protesters from Beirut to Baghdad and London to Ottawa have made known their indignation and opposition to a head scarf ban.
Even non-Muslims entered the debate — many on the side of opponents. Lord Greville Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, said Tuesday's parliamentary vote was "a sad decision."
"In a multicultural society, citizens should be free to wear whatever appropriate religious symbols they wish," he said in a statement.
The issue also has proven to be sharply divisive among France's Muslims — at five million, Western Europe's largest Islamic community. Many believe banning head scarves is a way to exclude Muslim girls from public schools and further ostracize their community.
"This is not a good idea," said Abdelhak Cherid, 24, smoking a cigarette in the street with his friends outside a Muslim grocery store in Paris. "It's going to cause problems — serious problems.
"This law is going to create anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-French sentiment. No good will come of it," he said.
But other Muslims here believe the key to successful integration is to live the values of their adopted land.
"I arrived in France and adapted to this country," said Telly Naar, 65, who came from Morocco 40 years ago. "Each should be able to practise religion at home. If one wants to wear the head scarf outside, fine, but not inside a school that is secular."
Some said the debate helped expose the danger of Islamic fundamentalism and will help roll back radicalism.
"Until now, families were alone in fighting fundamentalists, often in the shadows, and at danger to their safety," said Hanifa Cherifi, mediator for the national education system on the head scarf issue in schools.
The debate "lifted the veil on fundamentalist thinking, which is taking a population hostage," she said on French parliamentary TV.
Meanwhile in London, Mayor Ken Livingstone said a head scarf ban risks increasing anti-Muslim feeling and that Mr. Chirac "is playing a terribly, terribly dangerous game."
Mr. Livingstone was joined by religious leaders and human rights campaigners at a news conference Tuesday to oppose the French ban. The British government has said it would not consider similar legislation.
vélemények ?
Legislators voted by a massive 494-36 margin to approve the controversial ban on head scarves and other religious apparel — despite protests and criticism from around the world that the measure infringes on religious freedom.
The legislation goes to the Senate, where little opposition is anticipated, in early March. It is expected to be implemented for the 2004-2005 school year that starts in September.
The bill got far more than the 288 votes needed to pass in the 577-seat National Assembly, a measure of its popularity within France, demonstrated repeatedly in public opinion polls.
"The Republic and secularism are strengthened," said Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, hailing "the magnitude of this vote."
French leaders hope the legislation will quell the debate over head scarves that has divided France since 1989, when two young girls were expelled from their school in Creil, outside Paris, for wearing head scarves. Scores more have been expelled since then.
The bill stipulates that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden." It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries.
The legislation does not spell out what apparel would be banned, but it targets Islamic head scarves, as well as Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses.
Sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious symbols and clothing would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.
The government argues that a law is needed to protect France's secular traditions and to ward off rising Islamic fundamentalism.
"This law is for us indispensable," said Martine David, a Socialist legislator. Teachers "need a clear judicial framework."
Parliament's majority party, President Jacques Chirac's Union for a Popular Movement, agreed Thursday to a last-minute amendment by the Socialists that calls for an evaluation of the law a year after it takes effect.
Legislators want the option, if necessary, of being able to alter language banning "conspicuous" symbols to "visible" ones — in order to eliminate vagueness or ambiguity.
The governing UPM party also added an amendment to ensure that mediation takes place before any sanctions are imposed, another Socialist suggestion.
France has been widely condemned in the Arab and Muslim world, where thousands of protesters from Beirut to Baghdad and London to Ottawa have made known their indignation and opposition to a head scarf ban.
Even non-Muslims entered the debate — many on the side of opponents. Lord Greville Janner, vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, said Tuesday's parliamentary vote was "a sad decision."
"In a multicultural society, citizens should be free to wear whatever appropriate religious symbols they wish," he said in a statement.
The issue also has proven to be sharply divisive among France's Muslims — at five million, Western Europe's largest Islamic community. Many believe banning head scarves is a way to exclude Muslim girls from public schools and further ostracize their community.
"This is not a good idea," said Abdelhak Cherid, 24, smoking a cigarette in the street with his friends outside a Muslim grocery store in Paris. "It's going to cause problems — serious problems.
"This law is going to create anti-Muslim sentiment and anti-French sentiment. No good will come of it," he said.
But other Muslims here believe the key to successful integration is to live the values of their adopted land.
"I arrived in France and adapted to this country," said Telly Naar, 65, who came from Morocco 40 years ago. "Each should be able to practise religion at home. If one wants to wear the head scarf outside, fine, but not inside a school that is secular."
Some said the debate helped expose the danger of Islamic fundamentalism and will help roll back radicalism.
"Until now, families were alone in fighting fundamentalists, often in the shadows, and at danger to their safety," said Hanifa Cherifi, mediator for the national education system on the head scarf issue in schools.
The debate "lifted the veil on fundamentalist thinking, which is taking a population hostage," she said on French parliamentary TV.
Meanwhile in London, Mayor Ken Livingstone said a head scarf ban risks increasing anti-Muslim feeling and that Mr. Chirac "is playing a terribly, terribly dangerous game."
Mr. Livingstone was joined by religious leaders and human rights campaigners at a news conference Tuesday to oppose the French ban. The British government has said it would not consider similar legislation.
vélemények ?