The first ban on veils in the world was put into effect on Monday, in France. The French Government says that this new law will help to protects it citizens from inequality, and extremism. The new law says, that in short, you cannot have your face covered while in a public place, or you can be arrested. Not even a day had passed, when two veiled women were arrested at a protest for wearing a veil. The rules are that if you are arrested wearing a veil, you are fined 150 Euros, and no jail time, but if you make someone wear a veil, you face a 30,000 Euros fine, and up to a year in prison. If you make a minor wear a veil, then you could face double that. Italy has a similar law of where you cannot have your face covered, but it seems that this law made by France is actually targeted at veil-wearers more, or less.
I believe that this law is completely unfair, and unnecessary. If the country is run democratically, then it should be a free country, and the citizens should be able to do what they want, and in this case, wear what they want. There is no doubt in my mind, that there will be lots, and lots of controversy over this issue. The decision to wear a veil is a personal choice, which also relates to the persons religion. I have to say that The French Government did not make the right choice in my mind, and I am sure in many other peoples minds.
You need to consider the arguments put forth in favour of the law before passing judgement on it. Although I may ultimately agree with your conclusion, there should be "doubt in [your] mind." French legislators are not irrational and do not pass laws for no reason. Indeed, the veil controversy stems from several underlying problems present in our modern world
ReplyDeleteFrance has a distinct identity and is constantly worried about preserving it. Immigration, particularly Muslim immigration, remains a contentious issue in Europe. About 50 million Muslims live within the continent (excluding Turkey), most of them immigrants within the last 50 years. This has created a clash of values as many refuse to assimilate to the cultural customs, values and, indeed, clothing of traditional European society. At the same time, many of the cultural mosaic/melting pot/multiculturalist mores easily found and (mostly) accepted nowadays in North America are not present in Europe.
Furthermore, the veil is problematic for many people who view it as a symbol of male dominance over women. The French as a people also have a long tradition of state-sponsered secularism that dates to their revolution when Christian symbols were purged from the country.
Enough people are uncomfortable with seeing Islamic veils that French politicians are able to pass populist legislation banning such acts. French politics, and indeed European politics, often tends toward a quagmire of nationalist rhetoric. The 2012 French presidential elections will be an interesting example. The drastically right-wing leader Marine Le Pen and her Front National Party are exceedingly popular. In some polls, Le Pen is in first place amongst the contestants. It is doubtful that she has enough support to win the presidency, but she has enough to heavily influence the way the governing party acts. Indeed, unpopular President, Sarkozy, appears to be modifying some of his own policies to a more nationalist slant. It remains to be seen what effect the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Khan will have on this debate.
Mr. Wood's contention that "if a country is run democratically, then it should be a free country, and the citizens should be able to do what they want," suffers from a lack of understanding about social contracts. The contract that people make between each other to form society gives the will of the people (executed by the government) the ability to compel citizens in society to agree with its particular wants decisions. What the French have done by making the wearing of a veil a criminal act, is group it with a range of other criminal acts. Obviously, (unless taken to egregious extremes) this is the right of French society.
My opinion does eventually agree with the condemnation of the post, but for slightly different reasons. To force the removal of a cultural custom, especially a relatively passive one such as wearing a veil, seems an intolerant choice. If we as humanity are to work through our differences is a world of civilization "clash," then a bit of relativism and diversity will be helpful. It is true that veil wearing may not be a comfortable thing for many people, especially in individual cases, but it is important to realize the larger appeals. France certainly does not have an unblemished colonial history in the Arab world, and it would be hard to argue that laws such as this do not create alienation among many Muslims, even those who choose not to wear a veil. Not to stereotype, but this seems to be a thing that the Western world should be preventing.