PRESIDENT NICOLAS Sarkozy’s recent declaration to French parliamentarians was greeted with loud applause: “I say it solemnly,” he said, “the burka is not welcome in France.”
Veiling resurfaced as an issue last week, when 65 left- and right-wing deputies proposed creating a commission of inquiry on wearing the burka and niqab in France.
The burka is the full-length blue veil with a mesh screen for the eyes, as worn in Afghanistan. The niqab, in grey or black, also covers the entire body, with a narrow slit for the eyes and gloves to ensure not a millimetre of flesh is left uncovered.
A town mayor recently refused to marry a couple because he could not see the bride’s face. Several hundred women in this country of 65 million people are thought to wear burkas or niqabs.
Immediately after saying “the Muslim religion must be as respected as other religions”, Mr Sarkozy added: “The problem of the burka . . . is a problem of liberty and dignity for women . . . it is a symbol of servitude and humiliation.”
France “cannot accept in our country women imprisoned behind a mesh screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity”, but he stopped short of advocating a ban on burkas.
Government spokesman Luc Chatel earlier refused to exclude legislation, but immigration minister Eric Besson said it would only “create tensions”. Since the parliament wished to study the question, “that is the best way to proceed”, Mr Sarkozy said.
Socialist leader Martine Aubry said a law would strengthen the isolation of Muslim women.
Hassan Safoui, the leader of a Muslim association that supports the right to wear the veil, said it would be difficult to establish which women wore the veil by choice and which wore it because it was forced on them by male relatives.