France’s recent decision to abolish the Burqa, that is the traditional attire of Muslim women has now brought it into the crosshairs of Al-Qaeda. In a recent statement posted on a radical Islamist website, the terrorist organization has threatened to “take revenge” on France “by every means and wherever we can reach them.”

According to Abu Musab Abdul Wadud (Commander, Islamic Maghreb),

“We will not tolerate such provocations and injustices, and we will take our revenge from France. France is committing all of these grievances in a time when we see their women flooding our nations, filling our shores, poorly dressed and nude in a deliberate defiance to the feelings of Muslims and in clear contempt to the teachings of the Islamic faith, traditions and norms.”

This statement surfaced on a radical Islamist website, almost five days after French President Nicolas Sarkozy asked the French lawmakers to abolish the Burqa system.

The French judiciary system has set up a committee comprised of 32 lawmakers to establish the necessity of Burqa and whether or not French Muslim women would be comfortable with the abolishment of this system. The debate has also encompassed the argument, as to whether the Burqa system is in direct contradiction to the secular nature of the French constitution or not?

The Al-Qaeda statement also addressed the plight of Muslim men residing in France stating,

“Our Muslim brothers in France in particular and in Europe in general are increasingly troubled by the practices of the French politicians and their leaders, and their constant harassment of our people regarding the burqa issue. Yesterday they targeted the veil, today the burqa and maybe tomorrow their evil hands could be extended to defame our pillars of faith, like praying, fasting or the pilgrimage.”

Reaffirming his proposed decision to abolish the burqa system, President Sarkozy in a statement said,

“The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem. This is an issue of a woman’s freedom and dignity. This is not a religious symbol. It is a sign of subservience; it is a sign of lowering. I want to say solemnly, the burqa is not welcome in France.”

France is not the only European nation considering this move. In the year 2005, Netherlands also proposed a ban on burqa, but the then government left the office before the law could be passed.

Via CNN.