French President to submit legislation in May to ban Islamic veil

Paris - The French President recently spoke out in favor of banning the traditional Islamic veil that covers the face and body. Legislation will be submitted to implement the ban.

There has been discussion and debate throughout the Western world of whether or not the traditional Islamic traditions conflict with the cultures of the country, while others feel that a ban of such traditions may infringe on someone’s personal rights. The government of France announced on Wednesday that President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has spoken out in favor of prohibiting cultural garments of the Islamic tradition, will order legislation to Parliament in May that will fully ban women from wearing Islamic veils that cover their face and body in public places, according to the Associated Press. Sarkozy believes the veil oppresses women and such acts are not welcome in France, reports the Press Association. However, members of his own party have questioned a full outlaw of veils and the country’s highest administrative body is concered of the legality and constitutionality of such law. “Everything should be done so that no one feels stigmatized,” said Sarkozy, adding that the veils “do not pose a problem in a religious sense, but threaten the dignity of women." Al Jazeera notes that a majority of French voters, according to most polls, show that they support a ban. But others see the ban as a rising hostility against Islam and its symbols, while arguing that many Muslim women actually support covering up. Feminists disagree, though. They feel the ban would help those women who do not want to wear the niqab but were forced to do so because of their parents and relatives. Approximately 10 per cent of the country’s 62 million population is Muslim.