"lower your gaze, and cover yourself modestly..." This is a quotation from the Qur'an, emploring women to do likewise. I don't know what "subservience" Mr. Sarkozy is talking about. Is it "subservience" to the teaching of the Holy Book, or "Subservience" to the Republic? For me, I think the French Idelogy for freedom has been lost by Mr. Sarkozy utterances. Most of the Burkha wearing women, do it out of joy, simple! A lot will rather stay at home, and have high blood pressure from sitting in one place than go out without their Burkha – A health issue to the Republic.

"But banning face coverings anywhere in public would go a step too far according to many."

Lenin was right about the useful idiots !

Sarkozy is doing his job. His proposals are supported by the vast majority of the French people.

The burqa is a hideous example of female oppression.

I completely agree with the opinion of this article. It´s all about complete liberty and freedom.

It is not because some women are brainwashed since childhood with such ridiculous ideas that thay are inferior to men and have to hide from the public that we should listen to them. If human progress had been stopped by religious "freedom" bullshit, we would still have sex when churches want us to, with who they want and they would kill anyone who disagrees. Political courage means that any religious activities should be monitored, to prevent them to propagate around the world.
There are many areas were religion can be expressed freely : churches, mosques, synagogues, homes etc. French streets will NEVER be one of them, I hope.

Really I wonders about this time!!! all politcians and writers are talking about wearing Hijab & Burqa, and claiming it to be against women rights. Meanwhile, no body talking about million of womens being raped and sexually abused, and using them as animals to produce sexual movies.
Wearing modestly will protect the woman, and more over will protect the whole society.

What about " freedom of NOT wearing a burka, a veil or a Mao collar ".
Fashion codes are cultural. That means they have roots in History.
For thirty years, signs of religious clothing had almost disappeared in the street of Paris, religious freedom (and freedom to be not religious)was greater than today. Religious provocation as a political weapon. Not Sarkosy but militant Moslems divide between Moslems and the rest of the World.
By the way, President Obama says everywhere what people want to hear.

The French president is quite right on this matter, those who favour this burqas should wear it in their home countries not in Europe or the west. Can we eat pig meats in mecca? Europe is also a Holy Land just like any other land.

Why doesn't anyone mention reciprocity. Can a western woman traveling or living in most middle east countries, wear western clothing or do they have to conform to burka and scarf wearing rules?
Religion is a private matter regardless of the religion or the symbol. It does not need publicity. This is 2009.

Let us get this straight. Immigrant muslim women seldomly wore veils until 1979. Grandma who was on a visit from Turkey would. But not all grandmas or mothers in the 1970-ies wore veils. This can be inspected easily by the non believer (also the Moroccan women). Just look at your family albums of that era. First, the fact that there is such an album in your family is a sign that modernity was taken up, even it was against the Koran's rule prohibiting pictures of humans.Then came the Iranian revolution in 1979 and muslims all over the world tried to prove how pure they were, Sjiites and Sunnites alike. More precisely, the men were forcing the women to wear traditional clothing, again. This is what I observe, unfortunately the memory of most people does not extend beyond a generation. We can conclude that wearing a veil today is not a religious, but a political act. And this act, performed after 9/11 shows where you want to stand. Please don't be surprised if that causes upheaval. Action is reaction. Remember the dancing Palestinian women?

In France we have many muslim, the republic respect their religion this is not a problem, but it also respect the woman dignity. the principal problem is not burqua in the street, it's doesn't matter but burqua in public place like union in town hall is the problem ( union in france must be in ) . that's why the comunist mayor of Venissieux said to lawmakers to decide what he ( and the other french ) have to do

Congratulations Mr Sarkozy! It was about time! Vive la France! Free! Without any veils, that is a true democracy, that is what the French Revolution was all about, no more Victorian, pompous royalty, no more differences between classes, between people, and yes, veils, burkas, hijabs do make that separation whilst muslim men wear American t-shirts and comfortable jeans everywhere. Chapeau Monsieur Sarkozy and Madame Bruni!

Hurrah Sarkozy...
Let ehm know that FREEDOM is a two way street... if we travel to Arabia all women are FORCED to use the burka, even though we don't agree on it! If not... we are at our own risk! How come anyone else in the World can't ban the use of the burka outside the Middle East? It's outrageous to see how they want to impose over the free world their way over opressive rulings and "WAY OF LIFE"... where woman lives as "slaves" of man and everyday they practice the hypocresy of voluntarily imprisionment of ALL woman. I have the curiosity of knowing... if they like burkas so much as a signal of dignity and respect... why then man don't wear them too??!! :)

What about al the man wearing a burka and all the woman wearing what they really want,...

Sarkozy is right and Obama is totally and dangerously wrong. Islam is not only a religion but a social and political system that is totally incompatible and opposed to western democracy. That is why moderate islam does not exist. Islam is islam and cannot coexist with anything else. Treating the burka issue as a freedom of religion issue is therefore totally wrong. Allowing the Burka and giving up on our fundamental values (including freedom of speech by not criticising islam) today will lead us to Euroarabia and to a European Lebanon tomorrow. Leaders of the west, its not about freedom of religion when dealing with islam, its about saving our western democracy faced with a demographic islamic invasion. Don't give up democracy for being afraid of a terroristic attack. If that is the price to pay for liberty and democracy we have to pay it!! Look at the facts: in that all countries where islam rules are religious dictatorships and the life we know does not exist. Either muslims give up their wish to change our societies by introducing islamic law or we have to stop them and defend our values! Obama's strategy of dialogue is wishfull thinking with people who do not even know what democracy means and who fundamentally do not respect us because we are infidels. Obama, don't be the usefull idiot at the service of Islam and do not sell us out!!

What is the visual difference between black, white, or grey dressed Christian nuns and Muslim women wearing burkas? I think the difference is not so big. Why then there should be differenciation?

Vince, have you ever thought about asking the women who actually wear the veil how they feel about it? You will find most are more than happy to wear it.

As an older woman I am very uncomfortable with the fact that I am not able to make eye contact with women wearing a burka or veil. Modesty is one thing ... disengagement is another. We are all One Humanity regardless of our religious affiliations. And we are social beings. When we do something that makes social contact difficult then we must ask why? I'm a modest woman however, the burka and veil go far beyond modesty and create a barrier between one woman and another ... much less women and men. There is no doubt that if 'Women' are so beautiful to be dangerous, it is the men who need to be taught to respect that beauty. Why should beauty be covered up? This is not a religious issue. This is a social issue that has had far reaching implications to generations of women.

Why do politicians, mostly from the West – Europe particularly, must dictate to Muslims WHAT TO DO? Muslims are not idiots, nor bunches of ignoramus as they thought us to be!

The real issue at stake is not the burqa but the right of man to change
Divine laws. France is the epitome of the secular (read – atheist) system, which is ideologically opposed to the idea of the Divine itself. What Sarkozy is seeking to portray as a confrontation between subservience and freedom is in reality a confrontation between subservience to Allah and subservience to the atheistic system that denies the Divine. His imposing of his personal biases on others in the name of 'freedom' is an age-old devise used by all oppressors of all times.

And by-the-way, will the new law also apply to the Christian Burqa worn by the Nuns and also somewhat by the Pope or are they exempt because they are Christians and will the DilaiLama be able to wear his robe when visiting France or will he have to wear a suit and a tie...

We are in the year 2009 --Get it together and live your life in freedom .
Why would anyone want to live life like this ??

Most human beings should wear burkha–spare others their hideous faces!!!!

In Europe women are never forced to wear Niqab or Hijab, especially many musim women in France are former Christian who converted to Islam and are practising Niqab or hijab.

Mr. Sarkozy must try to put these rules for his latest wife whoes nude photos is shameful image for future generations to come in France. Freedom to wear or dress is every human right and muslim women must not be denied these rights.

If Jesus comes down and watch whats going on the western beaches, he would clearly expel many out of Christianity especially women. Every religion infact advice women to cover to stop voilence against women. Even the strongest laws in West couldnt protect women from rape n abuse and even justice cant help the victims (women), while bad memories which they carry throughout their life and difficult to heal.

And Pope including Church must interfere to stop Christian politians making such statement as undermining other religion values. This would only bring bad reputation for France in Muslim countries which might triger tension between France and muslim people around the world.

It is not as sensitive an issue as has been made. A Committee of Muslim scholars be constituted , particularly from Saudia & Egypt. They should give a verdict in the light of changed circmstances and compulsions specially SECURITY. If women are not allowed to cover their face during HAJ then why they cant they do the same at other places and times ?

We're talking about public places. To have outdoor relationships people have to be identifiable and humans cannot rely only on scent to recognize each other as some animal species do.

If integral masking is allowed – why keep all the video cameras and other security devices working? I think the debate is artificially conducted on an "moral" or "cultural" basis. Modern society should be built on pragmatism and dialogue and not on sectarianism. The burqa controversy is NOT one about tolerance or freedom, it is about the rules a community gives itself and the way its members interact.

Whether the burka is offensive or not depends on the women wearing them, and it is not up to president Sarkozy to determine it. Muslim women should feel oppressed, just because people who aren't them say that they should feel oppressed?

I've read a comment on this topic on CNN, where someone pointed out what's the difference between nuns covering themselves and muslim women covering themselves. It's considered modesty for nuns, but oppressive for muslims?

If president Sarkozy wants to further women's rights, he should ask the muslim women what he can do for them. Ensuring they have fair trials? No discrimination based on their religion and gender? Empower them to have a voice and speak out their opinions freely?

Whether the majority feels this way or not is irrelevant. People should be free to practise their religion, whether you like it or not. If however Muslim women themselves really feel it is oppressive, then it is up to the muslim community to decide what to do.

If you start dictating what people should or shouldn't do based on how the majority feels, eventually they will take away YOUR right to do things because they feel it is "inappropriate".

Subservient women who defend their "choice" of a burka need to be forced to try going out without one. This form of dress was designed by tribal men trying to hide their women from rivals. Women who accept it have been brainwashed by men and by ancient, inappropriate cultural practices that keep them barefoot and pregnant and prevented from learning how to make real choices.

what is a woman ? it is a human being created by Allah first (Eve) when Adam (a man ) felt lonley and alienated. she is a human with equal rights with man and confirming it is very much possible to find a woman / girl of higher thinking skills and cabability than that can be of a man .yet there are some crucial considerations . we should ask first – just to kill any idea that says islam or any one on eath despise woman – can men live without them ? the answer is soooooooo easy . of course not ? another question arises : whay it is of "course not ' ? the answer is much easier . it is because to fill in the space of the heart of man where no woman / female , even your mother or sister , can fill. you need a woman intelegant to talk to, to advise you ,to support you, to bring up your childern who are the real asets of any comuunity, and more importaltantly to LOVE . moreover think of it as a man not as a muslim ,nor as a western eurpean or american man nor cheniese , get rid of fake titles , you are just a man and ask yourself frankly , i repeat frankly do you accept to have your woman – your wife , your mother , your sister , your daughter , seen others , if yes is there any restrictions or limitations ? then please tell me .

at the end , please think human . thanks for your time

I agree with [Sarkozy]. I think the burqa is blatantly sexist and oppressive to women. How is that women are to wear such an atrocious, inhibiting form of wear...when men do not. It is also in the Koran that men dress modestly...I don't see them wearing a black burqa in the middle of a hot, arid dessert or anywhere else. They also argue that it deters men from "lusting" after women...this is ridiculous...women in burqa's have been raped and molested.

Take it off girls...and be free.

People should be identifiable to outsiders, and free to communicate. The burqa and hijab are symbols of separation, and barriers to exchange. As a women I take offense to culturally dictated forms of dress that subjugate women, even if a woman agrees to them. When I see women with scarecrow masks and black flowing dresses by Lake Geneva in the summer, I am glad to know they are only here on vacation. I am also glad that I have rarely seen a burqa-clad person (presumably women, but who knows), and I believe there is no place for such restricting concepts in Western society.

If Mr. Sarkozy wants to ban the wearing of the burka and other clothing or signs of religious beliefs, then he should start with the nuns and the priests too in France.

Berfore imposing his ideals Mr. Sarkozy should have consulted the relegious schollars of Islam, Judaism & christianity.

Muslims in Europe are also Europeans, they should be given the freedom to wear and not to wear the viel.

Those who cover the faces in Europe a v. v. few, why not grant them thier wish if that makes them happy and comfortable.

"“lower your gaze, and cover yourself modestly…” This is a quotation from the Qur’an, emploring women to do likewise." – in the Quran this is mentioned twice, FIRST for men, THEN for women. It's sad that some Muslims (and many non-Muslims) don't read actual text and use their God-given intellect to THINK. I don't think there is much Islamic about the burqa (rather a tribal, cultural thing in Afghanistan). At the same time, if we are honest about freedom of choice, then that choice should be able to include 'over dressing' as well as 'under dressing'. Freedom of choice if not true freedom if some choices (the ones we don't like) are excluded. My 2p. In peace.

PS: with reference in some comments to 'reciprocity' – why should my rights as a European to in Europe wear what I want (modest, but far from burqa in case you wonder) be dependent on some foreign countries that I have no ties with? Yes, we need to stand up for justice around the world, but let's walk as per own our values, not make steps (you can wear burqa in Europe, after we can wear shorts in Saudi) at home dependent on steps elsewhere...

Read between the lines here... This is Sarcozy's politically correct way of saying 1. we don't want Europe overrun with Muslims (which is is now thanks to the EU) and 2. the dress is a security risk due to the proven likelyhood of muslim extremism... and rightly so. It's a shame that it's politically correct nowdays to allow our countries, societies and cultures to be polluted by religious extremism and violence.

Theo De Jong.. you are so ignorant.. it's not even funny...

Sometime earlier there was a conflict of interest when immigration authorities in Europe wanted the face veil to be lifted for identification.Now it is mainly Muslims who are a source of international terror.There are instances of face veil shielding escaping wanted man. I therefore endorse Sarkozy"s opinion.He is very brave.

Everybody knows western culture promotes nudism and free sex.
Mr President should be more concern about the human trafic
taking place in big way in europe leading to underage prostitution and other illegal activities .Mr President should be concerned all over the world in most of the church's child abuse and rape is taking place.
There are thousands of issue which needs more urgent attention then few hundred women wearing burka.Also lately there is designer burka in fashion.Instead of spreading divide mr sarkozy should try to sell designer burkas world wide that will generate income for few thousand people in his country.

I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. This issue is actually much more simple than we would like to make it. There is always an opinion too strong, too lame, too tame.

Globalization is actually taking it’ s toll on the world. Cultures are fighting and forcing each other to morph into “one world and one line of thinking” which can’t actually happen. Major international conflicts arise because one part of the world can’t understand the other part of the world.

We are fighting each other for mere economic purposes at this point, global economy is taking it’ s toll on all of us. Easy: Global economic growth means expansion, expansion led to globalization, but globalization led to cultural clashes throughout the world, and therefore, misunderstandings between cultures that do not and will not have the same line of thinking.

I am in no way an anti-global, I understand that the right type of immigration also brings great benefits to some countries that are in need of extra labour force, I find cultures extremely fascinating. And I also respect lines of thinking. If I plan to travel, I adapt to the country I am visiting. I follow the rules, and try to understand where I am. If I do not agree or am unable to adapt to the culture, rules and laws of one country, I just don’t go there. End of the dilemma.

I cannot travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I am not married, I have no brother and my father has passed away. That’ s it. I would never wear a burka and I don’t think I could be capable of walking down a street without looking around, without looking into someone’s eyes while I speak to them, trying always to lower my gaze. Talking to men is as natural to me as talking to any woman. So, that’s it. I won’t go there. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the last extremist Islamic country. That’ s fine. Let’ s call France the first extremist western country then. That’ s fine too. It’ s the French culture, they are known for always having been a culturally avant-garde country. Let them be. If you don’t agree with them because of religious purposes don’t travel to France, don’ t immigrate to France. It’ s a big world, so you can always choose to go elsewhere. The French people agree? That’ s what a referendum is for, that’ s why there is a democratic government. Let them vote, let the French people decide.

I adapt. You adapt. We all adapt.

I belief every human has the right to wear whatever they like so far it is not obsene and does not consitute a threat to security. Secondly if it is the wish of those women to be veiled fine, if it is imposed then international human rights commision should enact a law where by the affected women can go to law court to challenge such imposition

"If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be - a Christian."

Mark Twain

The article touches on the core issue at hand "should any democratic government have the right to limit its citizens freedom of choice"? Banning the burka – whether it is a religious requirement or simple expression of religion – does not address the fundamental problems. If Mr Sarkosky is concerned with womens rights, then he should focus on ensuring that women have the "choice" to wear or not to wear the burka. And provide the safety nets necessary for women who are oppressed – to free themselves from such oppression (similar to safety nets provided to women who are physically abused by their husbands).

People Should have the freedom to do whatever thery want. Most women that wear the Burqa do so in a prouldy manner and are very satisfied. Nobody has the right to tell them what to do.
Saudi Arabia has never contradicted itself. Its informs people before visiting that is is a closed country and there are rules to be followed. France on the other hand supports freedom and choice, but it is clearly contradicting itself.
I think Sarkouzi is banning the Burqa out of revenge, simply because his girlfriend by then (now wife) was rejected entry to Saudi Arabia.

Actually sarkozy's girl friend dont like to wear the clothes and he thoughts that woman in full dress and with covered body is not looking gracefull. In Asian and and North African culture covering your whole body is not only a custom from millions of years but also a symbol of dignity and grace, so Sarkozy should have to think about his amendment and should not have to enforce his own and his girl friends like and dislikes on whole country's population.At this time World leaders has to end all the conflicts instead starting new conflicts between two largest religions of the world.
Thank You

I think sarzoky have no right to suggest a women that what's best for her or what's bad....His intentions for banning burqa simply manifests that he is rather a dictater imposing many of the muslim who love and feel really comfortable in wearing it..

Most women are forced to wear the burka! from their husbands and religious leaders. Lets take and example on Iran I think most women dont want to be told what to do. When you travel to other country you have to respect the dressing codes.. in france people normally dont wear burka. for example.. if we go to a muslim country why women that are not muslim are required to wear the veil? ..or something that covers the hair? when we go to those country we respect their traditions. ... when they come to our country they also must respect ours. for me is scary to see anybody covered from head to toe.. I mean when i talk to somebody i need to have eye contact!

How about the burka worn by nuns, popes and monks ?
It’s considered modesty for nuns, but oppressive for muslim women?
What a double standard known for french people....read their history...

sarko youre great and so are the majority of of the french people.france is a catholic country for thousands of years if these women wants to wear burka they are free to go back to their home countries and im sure its a muslim country.

Does any one comment on the laws in Islamic countries.Even non muslin women in Saudi have to abide by their laws.France is an independent sovereign nation.Those who do not like the lifestyle there are welcome to return to their mother country.The problem is they migrate to western countries for a better life style but want to live like the way they used to in t here country of origin.How many Islamic nations give freedom to people of other religions to observe their rituals?

i live in Amsterdam , not too many burka,s are to be seen here , but when i do it reminds me of a black spook... its scary ,besides . how do i know it is a woman . it might very well be a man with a gun and yes they are allways with a man as if they are not capable to be alone ... its a mystery as to why anyone would want to go though life pretending to be better than anyone by wearing a garment that covers you from head to toe and therefore claiming that you do this for ,,allah,, its like a competition ,who is a better muslim .... one who believes the most covers up the most? ridiculous!!!!! here was once a young lady [whith burka] who wanted to work in a day care center ; luckily every one protested , because that would have been too scary for the kids ; how can you expect to make contact? eye contact ? so to me its a good thing to prohibit the burka alltogether ,Saoudi Arabia is the place to be and there the women are tired off it too, they cant even buy their own underwear, wow,,, imagine ............

French have always been ahead of other nations in thinking ahead of times. They are a thinking people with liberal values and Sarkozi is the epitome of it. When the whole world is addicted by political correctness and fearful of religion, the French are again showing the way by taking the bull by its horns. Covering the whole body including the eyes of a living being is against humanity. Banning of burkhas should have been done decades before, but the French at least are showing the way. But, the credit goes to Kamal Ata Turk, who banned veils in Turkey long before.

wear the black thing and look like a funeral, is silly, the headpiece is the worst. In the ME when its 115 outside. it looks horrible, uncomfortable. We were born naked. why all the fuss. ,men and women should be able to live and view the world without any rules and regulations.Then you have the muslim men writing it saves women from being raped and used as sex slaves, what planet does this come from. The mentality is just crazy. I do what I want , dress how i want, nobody rules me.change color of burka to poka dots well then maybe for halloween i would wear it.

why doesn't that sarkozy utter a word about those naked women on tHE streets?? why doesn't he cristicize the wAy how western women r treated as a sex object whose bodies r more important than what they got in mind??? that narrow-minded thinks that the more clothes u take off, the more freedom u enjoy!! what a backward view!
anyway, he can stink in his hatred, none of his actions will change the truth about ISLAM, nor the value its gives to women!!
putting HIJAB or NIQAB IS OUR CHOICE!!

Thirty years ago this discussion would have never taken place in Europe. We all agreed then that the burka was not only a sign of oppression but real oppression on women. Yes, some women may choose to wear it just as such individuals may choose to live in tyrany or slavery thinking that makes them safe. But that would not be accepted by society. It's only because women are the victims that the burka becomes acceptable to many in the name of tradition, religious beliefs etc. If men were subjceted to the same oppressive rules and even if they choose to be in some cases, nobody would understand it or support it. Women's rights are in decline.... unless we stand up for them once again.

Being someone who has been a witness of the terrorist attacks in London, I feel very uncomfortable around them. You have no idea who is hiding under this mobile cloth prison. When I take the bus in London and there are a few wearing Burqas I feel threatened, intimidated and uncomfortable..
If any woman wants to live in the dark ages then they should go back to where they come from..note that these women DO NOT WORK, as they do NOT integrate in the society that has welcome them.

Prohibiting burqas, niqas and other strange and downright horrible attires needs no justification whatsoever. In MY home, I set the rules. In YOUR home, you set the rules. As simple as that.

Muslims have no special rights in the Western society since no one living here enjoys such privileges. In Muslim societies things are different: women that must show that they are caste
and happy to be enslaved by their polygamous husbands (at the rate of 4 to 1) are obliged to put
on a humiliating public show. Without doubt, their insecure Muslim husbands will feel somehow reassured that they are not cuckolds but real "machos". Are they truly?

Since ours are not failed states, like ALL Muslim countries – without exceptions, we will never permit anyone to soil our secular traditions, responsible for our successes in all walks of life. Islamists can continue being the basket cases they chose to be.

In France, Sarkozy, as the lawfully elected President, can define what is and what is not acceptable to the French people.

In Muslim countries, the turbaned mullahs, duly elected by themselves, define what is and what is not acceptable to the people, all according to their personal whim. This is their problems.

Finally, all Muslims have the sacred right to pack and go back where they, or their ancestors, came from. PLEASE USE THIS RIGHT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY. THANK YOU!

You have to ask yourself why it is politically correct for women to be exploited as sexual objects on billboards and in advertising, in movies and on the internet. But as soon as a woman refuses to play that game, and refuses to expose herself to the gaze of perverts and chauvenists a law must be passed to force her to undress.

Who has really understood the issue here? The true religon of Sarkozy and all others that would force any woman to expose herself is one of self-gratification and hedonism. It is certainly not Christian!

Would I want Sarkozy looking at my daughter? Not on your life. And I am a born-again Christian raised in California.

Hey, stop confusing bukhas-niqabs (which cover the face) with hijab (coever the hair and neck. We are talking here only about covering the FACE.

And YES, covering your face should be banned. It is not required by modesty nor the Quran. It goes against a universal human value: the face has always been, in every culture in history, the symbol of one's identity. Covering your face means you are hiding your identity, that you are no longer an individual. It means, in a deep sense, hiding your soul.

The niqab and burkha, no matter how successfully women have been brainwashed into thinking of them as a sign of piety and modesty, are in reality an affront against the humanity of women.

Want to be modest? Wear hijab. But do not cover your face before men.

"And it’s true that a ban in places like Britain or the United States would never be proposed or accepted."

Actually, places in the U.S. HAVE had proposals to ban head coverings. One example is Oklahoma where one girl was suspended when she wouldn't take the head covering off (we're not even talking burqa, guys, just the scarf; you can clearly see the face) because there was a school rule inhibiting wearing scarfs, dew rags, hats, etc inside. Their weak attempts to inhibit her religious freedom eventually fell flat on the face; thank God.

To be honest, I do think the burqa is oppressive in nature, but no one should be banned from wearing it in public anymore than they should be forced to wear it. Many people here are speaking as if their religious expression threatens your secular freedoms. But in asserting YOUR secular freedoms, you want to snip at their religious freedoms? That's foolish. No one would argue that my wearing a cross around my neck would be forcing my opinion on them, nor even cause a clash with the secular segment of society. I can work for the government, and wear things that mark my religion. So long as I am not making you wear my cross (or my burqa), you're own religious or non-religious freedoms aren't being imposed upon, and neither are mine.

Beyond that, many of these women have chosen to wear this–whether taught to feel that way by men is another, social issue, that should be handled through open discussion and social change, not legislation–because they feel it is what God wants them to do, and it is what they consider appropriately modest. Ladies, would you appreciate it if you preferred to wear modest shirts but everyone decided you were oppressed and wanted to make it a law that you HAD to wear your shirt half unbuttoned, or that your shirt HAD to show your bra straps?

It sounds like an absurd exaggeration, but at the end of the day, it's a reasonably fair analogy. The funny thing is, telling a woman what she can wear, at the end of the day, goes against women's rights.

As to the fact that the burqa completely covers someone's identity, making it hard to, say, identify a robber, is a slightly more complicated matter. But that's not what this article is addressing, and the comments, if nothing else, indicate that.

For the most part? This is about French people who are being discriminatory and disguising it and rationalizing it to themselves as an issue of "women's rights" and "freedom". Discrimination exists everywhere, plain and simple.

"if we travel to Arabia all women are FORCED to use the burka, even though we don’t agree on it"

Irene, I am pretty sure you have never been to "Arabia", whatever that is!

I would like also like to point your attention to two issues:

1-The hijab/burqu' is not just a "religious symbol" like wearing a cross for example, they are religious OBLIGATIONS as per Muslim belief. For those who wear it, taking it off is not even an option!

2-I think that asking someone to "dress" is very different from from forcing them to "undress"!

Thank you!

Sarkozy wants to deliberately create tension in the society so in this times of economic crisis minds of the people of France are diverted to issues like these... He deliberately creates situation of conflict, where there will be another "clash of civilizations" and society will be again divided and he will be supported by most non-muslims. He is a true politician! Great move! It's sad, that again, muslim card is played to serve the need of another politician, who has no respect to people of his country and to himself as well for that matter...

the burqa or hajib is not the matter here i think... the real matter is the full covering of the face of a woman... i think there are matters of belief , religion and the covering of one's face in a public place, amongst a community and in a society where communication is mainly facial – these are two different matters. Like someone said on an earlier post, we should stop mixing up religion, here islam and tribal traditions that have nothing to do with islam... the scarf over the hair is one thing, the nuns have it, traditional jewish women have it, and muslim women have it too. not that i endorse it, but at least we can see their faces.
religion or not, when someone has his/her face hidden, its his/her identity that is hidden, and im fed up with this excuse of the burqa being a means to avoid rape and abuse on women... it is the excuse of people that dont even realise how macho and sexist this is (teach the men to respect women as their equal first then come back later to teach the west about freedom...)... equality between genders have you ever heard of it?? and again stop confusing religion and tribal traditions...
well to come back to the full face covering, i think it is just totally normal to ask that any citizen has his/her face uncovered within the public domain, we are part of a social group and if we dont want to be part of it, no one forces us to go outside...

A muslim woman's perspective.

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/Comment/article/251341–right-to-full-body-veil-not-a-matter-of-religion

I totally agree 100% with Theo De Jong! You just have to look around the world to see his point. Here in Australia we are way too politically correct about all this type of thing and we are starting to pay the price for that now. I say congratulations to President Sarkozy! He is stating what a large percentage of the world population is thinking/feeling. If only other politians had the foresight and guts to follow – but I won't hold my breath.

If Muslims dont like the ideas and laws expressed in France they can move to a country more in tune with their thinking.

When did the west lose the right to set its own standards in its own countries?

If Muslim women feel they need equality, how about letting western women wear what they want in Saudi Arabia?

But no, we can go out to look for the "root causes" of terrorism but not "root causes" of America's war against terror.

Talk about being selfish on Muslims' part and wanting our way wherever we like.

Muslim this, Muslim that.... I'm sick of Muslims protesting day in day out just for their own selfish selves.

i find this very ridiculous. i am a muslim woman and i wear the hijab and feel very comfortable and happy wearing it. i live in the west and i dont care what anyone thinks.i live on my own, have a good job and well educated. it is what my religion tells me to do and no person or government can come and say they'll change a divine law.i'll rather relocate to another country.I see it as practising my religion and obeying God.period! Others choose not too but that's their choice.

Headscarves and veils were not worn by muslim women, except for village adult women, until the 1980s. I visited Cairo, Tunis, Amman, Algiers and many of the regional areas as well, and NO women ever wore veils of any sort in the cities of muslim countries. It only started after the new interest in Islam after the Iranian revolution. It is worn as a political or fashion statement and has nothing to do with the religion! Women often pressure each other into wearing it, not men. You are more 'superior" if you don a veil – the more radical the better. This is the same with any sort of cult-like thinking. How do I know all this? I was married to a muslim myself.

Without going into the pros and cons of Mr. Sarkozy's statement, I should think that the "purdah" worn by Muslim women is a very unhealthy garment.

I belief Mr. Sorkozy makes a big mistake by not allowing Musilm women wear Burkas or Hejabs. In this age of democracy and freedom,
everybody should be allowed to dress however they want.
Mr. President is violating human rights.. Shame on him..
He should understand that Musilms are dedicated and loyal to their religion.. and Muslim women are proudful of dressing modestly...
that is why 99% of Muslim girls are virgin before marriage... Because they are protected.
In fact, Islam gives values to women by having their beauity covered and only seen by their husbands , not by strangers.
West is trampling women`s rights by selling their beauties in commercials and adult movies... So guss what..... Which one is better...

No matter what is going to be decided about this issue, I gurranttee that muslim women will keep wearing them even if they get deported from France...

Sham on Sorkozy,

Mr.Sarkozy should learn from Obama ... He is the only president of the west that is taking a proper approach toward Muslims. In his speech in Cairo he told everybody that Muslim women are allowed to wear Hejabs in US. And he is right....
I also belief that Muslims have their rights in USA..... Coz in USA you will see so so many Muslim Women wearing Hejab.
Fracne and any other western countries must stop dicrimminations against Muslims.

Shame on Sarkozy.

The timing of this announcement should not be ignored. A national politician low in the polls in his own country, increases his visibility and popularity by tackling a "unifying" racists issue. It is not the first time, it won't be the last.

If genuine, perhaps a discussion with French Muslim scholars and in particular Muslim women scholars is in order, not the xenophobic pronouncements of a politician.

We in the West insult Muslim women by deciding for them they are oppressed, perhaps we should ask them.

If you want to live in a foreign country, you better follow the uniform civil code which exists there. You want to wear a burqa, then go to Saudi or any islamic country which allows it. Definetly wearing a burqa is a security risk. We should not allow this.

President Sarkozy is trying to Ban the Burqa for the wrong reasons. After all, the Burqa is just another long black dress, albeit, topped up with a combined non-transparent veil and a head scarf. There are more valid reasons for banning the Burqa or at least the veil. Here are the most important reasons for discouraging the Veil and the Burqa.

1. Identification & Security reasons- Terrorism is one of the biggest threat to human society today. Many terrorist organizations are using more and more females for suicide- bombing attacks such as the ones carried out by the LTTE in India and Sri Lanka. A burqa can easily hide a explosive vest and makes security searches almost impossible.

2. Medical – Burqa wearers, especially in temperate countries, are prone to vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight is essential for the conversion of precursors to Vitamin D in the skin. Lack of vitamin D leads to Rickets in children and osteporosis in adults. Many old Muslims ladies suffer from ' Bandy ' legs as a result.

3. Social reasons- This is undoubtedly the most important reason. Humans are social animals and differ from all other animals in their ability to convey a range of emotions by facial expressions. In fact one could say that a smile is an expression unique to humans and one of the first expressions on a baby's face indicating that ' everything' is okay. Facial expressions are also so fundamental to human communication that to 'cover up' the is almost cuts off the individual from the outside world.

L Dalpadado, FRCS

If every body will mind their own business and let the muslim ladies decide for themselves about their freedom, world will be a very peaceful place. The so called demorcratic politicians are creating unneccessary problems for their own gains.Trust and respect each others religious beliefs is what is needed in this world.

The notion that a woman puts herself in danger for not covering up is once again blaming the victim. If orthodox Muslim men are so pious, why is that these men, who pray multiple times a day with such discipline, can't seem to control themselves if confronted with the natural beauty of women? Take responsibility for your urges and actions, men!

If you cannot do this, you are NOT a man– and instead acting like an animal. I would argue that you are NOT close to nor respecting God, nor Allah, or any force called divine.

Do not deny reality: women in Orthodox Muslim-dominated countries are STILL raped and sexually assaulted– even though they wear veils and burkas. Often it's fathers, brothers and other male relatives who are the perpetrators– who don't respect and value females and see them as property to which they can do whatever they want with impunity. Animals.

I don't feel that Sarkozy is being especially sensitive in his banning of the burka. But, I do believe that it does take bravery to chip away at a social code that has been placed on women to make them subservient, passive and pieces of property without human rights. That salute to bravery extends to the leagues of Iranian women that we saw in green protesting the botched election.

If something as horrible as the Basij can exist in Iran, beating or jailing women for not wearing their veils properly, than it is logical to see a knee-jerk counteraction in the west: the French state stepping in to ban the practice of wearing hijab.

This sounds like tit for tat, but extremism begets extremism. I wish it never got to this point.

i live in the uk and we have many woman wearing this burka covering there entire face this should be band sooner rather than later its intimidateing and should not be allowed we have survelance cameras everywhere so if a crime is commited the person can be often seen ond charged no one in this my country of britain should be allowed to cover there face up if anyone says its for religous reasons then they do not belong in the british isles they should go home where would hower woman be if they wanted to wear a short skirt in irian the would be shot its taking the word freedom to far covering anyone's face up in public its allso a good way of terrorist to dress up without getting seen if they commit a crime i say go home and if obama in the usa agrees with the burka being worn then i would question his compitance in leading the most powerful nation in the world his he a muslim i would ask my self

I am a free woman enjoying democratic rights in a well educated country. For me it is SELF EVIDENT to be free to express my opinion and share the same status of a man. This must be the basis for our discussion, I cannot accept any argument going against that general values.

Theo De Jong is completely right! I subsrcibe every single word !

NO LIMITATONS TO OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
NO SUPPRESSION OF US WOMEN !

How can one argue that the women's beauty is to be covered because the evil animal like men could rape her??? (I hope these men stay far away from me!)
Or that a free modern woman with a free sexual life is a whore or has less value?? (who invented that backwarded ideas about pride, anyway?)
People using these arguments are really far away from our democratic and free way of thinking, which is in my eyes a result of a cultural evolution and thus worth to be protected!

Good news: if you want covered women on the streets there are planty of places on earth where you might feel more familiar with. Our boarders are open, nobody forces you to live in this awful conditions here :)

if burqa was so bad, why does the French even allow Muslim to migrate to France. they can just close their border and wine happily.

wonder why the west is so obsessed with Muslim women wearing burqa/hijab/ and men's wearing beard. True Muslim, like it or not, are consumed by submission to ALLAH and for many pious it means wearing burka, etc...so what is wrong with that. why can't the west put some resources on reducing injustices in their own backyard. economic, sexist policy in the west are more inflicitng on western women than in many muslim countries. in most muslim countries educated women are more free and better off than educated women in western countries.

mister Sarkozy is right
i am from the Netherlands and its also not allowed to wear a burka in a public tranport
i know its not up to te government to say what a woman should/not wear
i my opinion is that they come to my country as a guest an they should adaps to our rules and not from Allah
i dont know how many moslims life in the usa
but France and the netherlands are small if you compare it with the usa
and where i life are many conservative moslims
and i would not like it if they say about 10 years that holland is a islamic republic or with a Sharia

I don't think Government should be allowed to tell people what to wear, but at the same time every country has rules and laws. If western women moved to Iran or some other Muslim country they would have to follow the laws of that country. If the country is one where a woman covers her hair and or her face she would have to do that. So why is it so hard the other way around.

I THINK FRANCE NEEDS TO REVISE THEIR DEMOCRATIC AND FREEDOM VALUES. I find it strange that some of the comments are justifiying Sarkozy's action by how some of the third world countries treat expatriots. Are they justifying wrong actions with wrong actions. AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO WEAR WHAT THEY PLEASE SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT IMPOSING ON OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHTS.

First of all, you all need to understand like every other religion on the face of earth, islam states that you can not force religion onto anyone, islam means submission, and submission does not come by force, it comes of the persons desire and free will.
now you are all making an issue of something that no man has to defend or fight, it is smiply does the sister want to wear it if yes then let it be, as for the french duda who want on to declare something of the magnitude on t.v should smiple have said we do not except muslims, so if you are a non muslim please feel free to make your way onto france and if you are muslim leave your values at the door, which would then show how you fell treaten to see the light and reality ,and how afreid you are what islam will challenge your way of livng.

As a moslem i realize that it's hard to understand for non-moslem that in Islam men and women have different aurat (part of bodies that should be covered). Why, because western values teach us that everything is fair if it has the same portion. i'm wearing veil not burkha onmy own decision. i feel safe. i feel respected by others and most important nobody will annoy me. covering aurat is an obligation in my religion just like pray and fasting in ramadhan. a moslem is free to choose to do it or not, if not he knows the consequences especially later in akhirat(life after death). may Allah Subhanawwata'ala give his guidance to us.

Immigrated friends told me in arabia if you dont wear the burqa (even when the temperature is near 50°C ,the religious police force you to go in prison ,when 12 years old girls are violated by men , the authorities say they cheated on their husbands and in most cases these young girls get covered with sands and get their head stoned untill they die,in maghreb or in Iran thieves get their hands cut off
Each country has its tradition ,in muslim countries foreigners don't have the right to eat pig or to drink alcohol and they do not, in France women dont wear veil and are not supposed to be brain washed .so respect our country !
Mr obama wants to defend this kind of culture , these traditions,perhaps because it is his...
Now sarkozy wants to protect the women's right and he's accusated to be a feminist... well I would rather have a feminist president than a stupid one .

here is the entire Nicolas Sarkozy's speech , see , he defends democratic ideas , like religious liberty etc.

"Où en sommes-nous avec la laïcité ? Je reste ferme sur l'idée que la laïcité, ce n'est pas le refus de toutes les religions. C'est un principe de respect, pour toutes les religions, pour toutes les croyances. Dans notre République, la religion musulmane doit être autant respectée que les autres religions. Le problème de la burqa n'est pas une problème religieux, c'est un problème de liberté, de dignité de la femme. Ce n'est pas un signe religieux, c'est un signe d'asservissement, d'abaissement. La burqa ne sera pas la bienvenue dans notre République française. Le Parlement a souhaité se saisir de cette question, c'est la meilleure façon de procéder. Il faut qu'il y ait un débat et que tous les points de vue s'expriment. Nous ne devons pas avoir peur de nos valeurs, nous ne devons pas avoir peur de les défendre".

"Wearing modestly will protect the woman, and more over will protect the whole society."

–> Protect from who? from frustrated males who can not refrain from abuse them? Stop considering that woman belong to men and burkas will be useless. This tells more about the man who writes this than about Sarkozy's will.

"How can a politician determine what a woman should wear?"

–> Are people allowed to walk naked in the streets? Of course not. And that is because politicians forbid them to do so.
–> are people allowed to take children from school without being identified? of course not, And that is because politicians forbid them to do so.
–> Are people allowed to hide when the pass an exam? of course not, And that is because politicians forbid them to do so.
–> Are people allowed to hide when the get married so that no one can tell who is getting married? of course not, And that is because politicians forbid them to do so.

Please medias! stop heralding the worst middle age religious practices as if they were a "right". Religion has always be opposed to human rights. Religious ideologies only want to conquier public space. All of it. It is time to remind religious fanatics that the right place to "express" religion is called a church, a mosq or whatever. The streets are meant for everyone and people are therefore expected to behave in a way that is accepted.

Burkas in France is as obscene as topless women in SaudiArabia. Religion is intimate in France, not the size of your breast, while the size of your breast is intimate in Saudi Arabia, not religion.

I choose France!

Do people know that in Tunisia, even headscarfs are forbidden in the street eventhough 99% of the tunisians are muslims? Is Tunisia an islamophobic country?

Give us a break! Freedom is to be obtained against religion!

I believe it should not be for anyone but an individual to decide within his or her own context what clothing he or she wears, how their religious or cultural beliefs manifest themselves, and what a particular belief means to them, pending beliefs and actions that actively harm others. As with anyone, a woman should have a choice to her body, her dress, the development of her mind, etc. Whatever the origins, cultural/religious practices should be understood today in the eyes of those who practice them and not by outsiders, because no one culture/religion/set-of-ideals is "right"–all are circumstantial and biased. So to me it seems horrible to force someone to give up an item of clothing if they don't want to. Empowering people is a wonderful goal, but attempting to summarily control their choices–as this kind of mandate does–seems to me to be a step backwards.

and we have no more freedom with sarkosy television newspapers he want all know et all controled when someboby make or says a thing and he is not okay he phone and the people go out finish and all with sarkosy is the same

and i wait 2012 for change and have a new president for my country

bbb

All it takes is one suicide killer in a burka...and then bye bye burkas.

Do we need to wait for that?

To wear or not to wear,compulsory or not is not a problem..If a muslim lady does not feel like wearing a burka or head coverings let her be.But if she herself has the understanding or has strong respect for her religion and most importantly she feels and thinks it is right for her to cover herself then she should follow her instinct.
Nobody can make or tell you to follow something that you do not like to do.Religion practices and beliefs should make a human feel contented spiritually.There should be freedom in practicing religion.We should RESPECT cultures and religion aspects of any nation in the world.

Muslims women who live or come to visit Europe can wear what they want,it is up to them to wear head coverings or not,I do not see why this is a problem.About making eye contacts and all these restrictions well..if they are taught to be that way,then the least that we can do is to respect them.This is how they are since they were small.If European women are asked to cover herself while visiting or living in Arabic countries then they too must respect the cultures and customs there.

This is why we do not have peace in the world,we do not know how to respect.

I strongly agree it does not matter whether you are a Christian,Muslim,Buddhist,Jewish or of any faiths in this world,it is important to believe what you believe and you feel alive and well doing what you believe.Since it is the globalization era and poor those who do not understand this,cultures go across boundaries,people are mixing up
and honestly this is the era that we should not just acknowledge ourselves but other people too.

I am a christian Russian and I have friends from all over the world with diverse backgrounds in my university.I am very happy to learn about other cultures.This made me realized that I am just a person from one section of a society and that this world is so rich and diverse and it is much more beautiful to learn,understand and share our social differences.

In the end of the days,we just have one world,only one planet to live and no other place else to go.If we fight about ridiculous thing about who should not wear what at some place and then rage wars then indeed you,me,they,us,we are all ignorant human idiots.

Gods do not exist, so what is the point of funny rules in old dusty books.

we don't need any feminist freedom fighter. we don't need this kind of freedom for women those serving drinks in nude in pubs and hotel (this are very common in western countries) and wearing short and half nude dressing enjoy by so called feminist freedom fighter( western gents)

sarkosy is a little dictator and a very bed president for my country and i hope a new in 20012

As long as no one forces me to wear Muslim garb im easy with what other women want to wear! It's the 'being forced to dress that way' that I oppose.
As a practicing 'non-fundamental/non-extremist/non-orthodox Christian I can wear what I like.
Fundamentalists, to my mind, should remain in their country of birth unless they intend to 'convert' to the globally accepted western format.
Fundamentalism and extremism means, for the most part, 'being forced to'.

I agree with Sarkozy's objective , I mean the Burka is a form of extremism since the Koran doesn't require women to cover their entire face. And it is true that many women are forced into it by their husbands or their parents. But i think trying to get rid of it in this manner is not going to get him to reach his objective. Instead it is going to make muslim women react negatively and maybe become more religious. Just like banning the veil from public school will put veiled girls in private schools if not private schools dedicated to islamic teachings, which will result in more isolation and less unity. The law also upset many women who became more religious in response to it. So personally i understand his intentions but believe it is wrong to do it in that manner. Maybe if he got a religious figure to explain how the Burka is not required in Islam , it would be a more understanding and effective approach.
Also we have to remember that banning specific clothing is a violation of freedom. Democracy is about freedom and freedom does not entail restricting women from wearing their traditional clothing .

In the democratic republic of Suriname, former Dutch Guyana, there are Muslims, Hindus, Christians, worshippers of nature and others.

In 1975 Suriname became independant and they inherit a cultural christian dominancy. 34 years later the different religions have national free days. They all live together. Mosk, Synagoge and Church are situated close to each other.
In general the religion is tight to an ethnic group of people as well to existing political parties. As no group is dominant in number of people, they have to work together in politics and have to maintain interreligious contact. They are aware of the dangers as seen in other countries, therefore the bigger political parties practice an explicite "fraternizing way of doing politics"

Sometimes you see on the market women dressed in a burka. Often you see women with a shawl in different situations.
This is not a public issue to debate. It is just normal.

Come and see Suriname, peacefull coexistence is possible.

France is predominately christian country which is modern, liberal and secular, technologically and Economically advanced, democratic republic.
Islam has very little role in it, however in order to divert the problems which France is facing especially the problems of minorities, the French president Sarkozy is now blaming Burqa for backwardness of Muslim women.
Being a Muslim I believe that Jesus Christ was the son of St.Mary and a great Prophet of Allah(God). Now I find his mother wearing a head scarf and not a Bikini, but I guess will Nicholas Sarkozy accept her in Bikini or Head scarf?

Bikini West can it make St.Mary wear Bikini or is She happy in Burqa?

Sarkozy, as the President of France, must look after the French people – their wellbeing, their progress and, yes, their security.

When Muslims were accepted as "guest workers", it was expected that they would return to their home countries as soon as the work contracts were over. But France being a democratic state, it could not simply deport those that did not want to leave, especially when their children were born in France. This is something only Arab Muslim countries like Dubai, UAE, etc., can mercilessly do to their brethren and without the slightest hesitation. Normal people just don't do such things.

Regardless of what they say (because they are mostly obliged to say it) no woman is happy wearing a horrendous black (of all colors) bed sheet over her entire body. But there is little they can do, unless Sarkozy comes to their aid and prohibits the use of such demining cloth in France. Since Muslim women must do many tasks outside their homes, they will start getting used to dress like all other women around them. And maybe one day, they will not accept using the "sheet of shame" any longer.

Since Muhammad, the prophet, gave women in perpetual slavery to men, half of the Islamic population has NO rights what-so-ever, not even to life. Many apologists will argue against this truism but they will NOT alter reality.

Therefore, "Vive la France" and "Vive Sarkozy"!

All country have religions root except one : France. Yes we have catholic ancestor, but we have many people in france who come frome former colony ( algeria, maroco, tunisia etc... ) and we accept it. I repeat that in sarkozy opinion, the problem is not religion it's the respect of our secularism ( it's a difficult word to translate, we have only this word in french I don't found a good translation in dictionary ). in fine, I would said that religion never decide for us, and especialy since 1905.

I believe Islamic countries have to ask themselves this question: if a non Muslim person lives or visits their country, why do these Islamic countries insist that non Muslim women have to show they are modest by covering up in face veils / nigab / burkas?

If we are able to get a convincing answer from our Muslim believers to justify the above mentioned enforcement in Islamic states, then we should allow face veils / nigabs / burkas and other Islamic women dressing gowns to prevail in non Islamic countries.

Islamic religious based dressings have no place in non Islamic countries and I believe it is only fair that we have the same expectations from Muslim believers when they are living or visiting non Islamic countries.

Mr. Sarkozy gets my support.

this should not be seen as a religious matter because it will only upset Muslims and make them feel that everyone is against them, the real issue about 100% coverage of the face (which is what a burqa is) is that it is impractical because it can be a security problem in banks and shops etc, it is also not to be seen as a gender thing, i think nobody whether male or female should be unrecognizable in public because its unsafe and a security hazard, it is just like helmets for motorcyclists, everyone by law has to wear a helmet, we cannot make an exception if for example, your religion forbids you to wear a hat.. it's nothing to do with religion, it just a basic requirement for living together as a community..

I think there is a whole different case. The men who are in favor of banning Hijab dont really care about Muslim women being free, they are just idiots who want to see women naked, nude so that they enjoy their lives. And the women who are in favor of banning are those who want men to look at them, tease them and are desperate.

God, The creator of the universe, the most passionate, the most merciful, knows well how to keep men and women free. Islam is the only religin, which gives women a respecful and happy place in society and doesnt let them to be used on Shampoo advertisements naked like the west, or doesnt let others to like them just because they are "hottt" and good looking.

No matter how hard the enemies of Islam try to hurt Islam, God will protect Islam through real muslims as promised in the Holy Quran.

I believe that Women should not be allowed to work their Burkas in places owned by that state. Schools, Airports, and banks would we allowed masked men to sit in those places? Even if they say that it is part of their beleif to do so? Masks, Burkas, and other items of clothing that does not allow you to show your face should not be allowed anywhere in public.

It is a double standard. Muslims are outraged at the fact France wants to make the law of not wearing the traditional Islamic garment but when a women travels to a middle eastern country she is required to wear covering because it would offend Muslims.

peace

May Allah give light to Sarkozy ..to take his words back..

Burqa/Hijab/Chador/Abaya should be banned pretty much across the world, at least in non Muslim countries. There is no point asking Muslim females as to what they feel about it, as those of them who support this as tradition – have been brainwashed since childhood and are unlikely to take an enlightened stand. Also, reciprocity matters. If Muslims do not give non Muslims the freedom to practice their religion/lifestyle in Islamic countries, it is wrong to expect the same in Western world. Plain and simple.

Though I dont align myself with present day islamic faith, this is a matter of religious belief and no politically elected leader of a secular state should tell followers how and what to do.
But I wont be really sad if this is in effect and muslims in france are forced to not wear burkha.

I'm an American in France. The burka seems to be far less a religious symbol than a social rebellion against Sarko's right wing views. He took Bush's examples of using racial "tokens" to get blacks and arabs to vote for him. While Condi and Colin didn't fool blacks in the US, it worked in France. This is a guy who passed a law "praising the virtues" of French colonialism, which has been the source of ongoing rage amongst descendants of French slaves in the Antilles, Polynesia, and especially among Arabs in North Africa. The guy's a manipulator, exploiting the popularity of Obama, along with his "tokens" who are all women with zero political experience, zero political savvy, and zero political clout to understand how they're helping to push through his right-wing anti-Muslim agendas.

whatever you say sophie, our traditions are ours
and we don't care if the others disagree ,it's our country so the french people will choose and demand the law to be applied
, if musilms foreigners don't like then they have to go back to their country ,as for SArkozy he's one of the best president we have ever had.u stupid "leftist" ^^
it was funny to answer you in English ;)

Thank you President Sarkozy ~ it's all about respect ~ rare where women are concerned these days! This is most refreshing!