General Chat

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken out strongly against the wearing of the burka by Muslim women in France.

In a major policy speech, he said the burka - a garment covering women from head to toe - reduced them to servitude and undermined their dignity.

Mr Sarkozy also gave his backing to the establishment of a parliamentary commission to look at whether to ban the wearing of burkas in public.

In 2004, France banned the Islamic headscarves in its state schools.
More:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8112821.stm

Brian(i)

Well done him.
Although it will be fought against by an awful lot of women as well as men.
Deanna X

France has a reputation of ignoring protocol - I wish the UK authorities had a similar backbone.

I agree with you Dermot..............................

Ladies, do you ever think, whilst in the ‘Ladies’, that could be a man in that ‘burka’??
Brian(i)

I shall carry that thought with me next time I use the ladies Brian, and I'll be very carefull.
lynn

It's how people act, not what they wear, that is important.

Perhaps he could draft legislation to ban young women wearing ghastly, tarty, too-tight, cheap-looking 'club gear' too ;-))

At least you could see if these young women wearing ghastly, tarty,
too-tight, cheap looking club gear were hiding say an explosive device, unlike the shrouded burka wearers.

That is actually what I find scary about the Burka... what it is hiding... call me neurotic, but my SiL is petrified, as she knows that the people in the establishment next door to hers has men hiding behind it... well, young boys, about 15 or 16... and she is not British, but Asian... has lived here for 30 years. Call her racist if you want..... but she is the same religion as them!!

I also know that the Burka is the disguise used on a couple of occasions for terrorist suspects fleeing this country.... now please tell me where exactly on a mini skirted and boob tubed young woman one can hide one's identity?

I also noticed.... and was victimised and villified by the same... that a number of young, British born girls, wore the Burka and were very abusive to the wives and families of servicemen.... but their identities were very conveniently hidden behind their clothing... but they spoke in a very broad regional dialect!!

No, these days, no-one should have their faces covered, be they motorcycle riders, or women who wish to wear the Burka... in this country, they do not need to do so. My ancestors fought as Suffragettes to make sure that they did not need to do so.

I know that we have freedom of choice... but if a lad was wearing a hoodie, or a bandana around his mouth.... he would soon be stopped and questioned.

No, I am not racist.... but I am feminist!! Well, ish!!

Love

Daff xxxx

I well remember the trouble which flared up in France when 'the headscarf' legislation was passed. I fully agreed with the ban, and wished that the British govt. had the guts to do the same.
What a lot of people failed to notice was that it wasn't just a headscarf ban, it was not aimed solely at Muslims, but it was a ban on any overtly religious wear, ie turbans and the christian cross aswell.
Rightly so, in my opinion. Because whatever we believe in, we don't have to blatantly advertise it in public.

As for the wearing of the Burka? Once again, I wish our govt would have some guts and make a similar stand. Because times have changed and unfortunately in our current political climate, we all need to vigilant, wary and on our guard...and people wearing cloaks & hoods are bound to cause suspicion.

K