It was French President Sarkozy’s first historic appearance before the Parliament and in his first direct address to the lawmakers and policy makers present in the Parliament Sarkozy chose to slam veil of muslim women ‘burqa’ while speaking about his vision about France. He thus supported a proposed parliamentary commission by 60 legislatures to review burqa.
Treading cautiously on secular lines Sarkozy said that Muslim religion must be respected like other religions but added traditional veil of Muslim women was a sign of subjugation and was not welcome in France a country which believed in maintaining the dignity of women.
France has courted controversy before by passing a legislation prohibiting head scarves and other religious symbols in public schools. Keeping religion away from public life may be a good move to curb growing religious fundamentalism.
It remains to be seen if France which has some 5 million Muslim population does manage to bring in a ban on burqa. It would liberate scores of Muslim women from wearing a garb of anonymity. When religious reforms don’t happen within religion it has to be imposed by legislation. But once again religion is a dangerous ground to tread.
