Coming soon: Hefty Fines for Wearing Burqa in France

France is formulating a strict new law under which women who wear full-length veils (burqa) in public places will have to pay a fine of over 750 Euro.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/28862-coming-soon-hefty-fines-wearing-burqa.html

The amount could be doubled for Muslim men who force their wives or other female members of their to cover their faces, The Daily Mail has reported.

Jean-Francois Cope, president of Nicolas Sarkozy's ruling UMP Party in the French parliament, said the new was intended to protect the 'dignity' and 'security' of women.

He is set to file the draft law in the National Assembly after Sarkozy said veils are 'not welcome' as they intimidate and alienate non-Muslims, especially in a secular country like France.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28862

"We want a ban in public areas," said Cope, making clear that the veil would not be allowed in public buildings, or on the streets of France, as it encourages extremism.

Cope said, "The wearing of the burqas will be subject to a fine, probably of the 4th class, which is to say 750 Euros."

He said the fine would apply to 'all people on the public street whose face is entirely covered'.

A parliamentary inquiry into the wearing of all-body burqas and naqabs is due to publish its recommendations next month, the report said. ***

 
Do share your immediate thoughts or reactions on this issue? We value your views! Login Now! or Sign Up Today! to share your views with us.. Gurfateh!

__________________

Tell them to pass another bill also. Highest reward for those who walk naked in public.

A discussion of this article may prove very interesting. I found it to be yet another news article published this week that left me a tad baffled.

Does everyone agree that the new law is mainly aimed at protecting the dignity and privacy of Muslim women? That this is the genuine reason for banning the burqa?

Is the burqa intimidating to "non-Muslims" in "secular" countries?

I see at least 3 women a day either at work or in my neighborhood in burqa and have never felt intimidated. Some of my friends are intimidated by the sight of a woman in a burqa. Some are horrified.

I confess that I do feel some strains of concern: Burqas must be hot, confining and possibly even place a women in physical danger in certain circumstances. Many years ago there was a story of a ferry boat that sank off the coast of Indonesia. All of the women drowned because they were weighed down by the burqa and did not have the freedom to work themselves free once it became soaked. Another story not so long ago reported the number of women who are badly burned in Afghanistan because, as they pass by fires in market places while shopping, the burqa catches on fire. The small eye opening also limits a woman's peripheral vision. So the burqa poses a safety hazard that is real.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28862
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=28862

On the flip-side. Men have been known to wear burqas. A terrorist, either carrying out an attack or under police surveillance, could indeed use a female disguise as a distraction and be essentially invisible.

Wondering what forum member's reactions to this article are?

I'll let this guy do the "crazy" talking. not that I agree with him or anything...

There is hardly any Difference between militant secularism and Talibanistic way of Life.
Both try to impose their way of life on others and Here we see people day and night cursing religions

Oh there is a lot of difference Kanwardeep Singh ji!
You have made a very shallow comparison. Let's see you elaborate on that.

Both try to impose their lifestyle on others

Both impose freedom on religions

Both believe that what others are doing is wrong and everyone adopt their philosophy

kanwardeep singh ji

I agree with your comment above. At first, though I didn't understand your earlier point. Thanks for the clarification.

As the Sufi mystics say, "Allah is veiled by his own Light." "By the Light of Allah, I see Allah."