French ban on headscarves

The French National Assembly's overwhelming vote in support of a bill prohibiting religious emblems in state schools has further fueled the controversy which has put France in the spotlight for several months.

Although Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses and Sikh turbans will fall under the purview of the ban in public schools, the Muslims feel the most hurt.

Given their large presence -- France has the largest Muslim minority in Europe (five million) -- inevitably the Muslim reaction has been the loudest. The passage of the French law will also rob the West's credibility in its campaign to assure the Muslim world that the war against terror is not directed against Islam.

It is not easy to justify the ban in view of the fact that religious symbols have so far not proved to be a major source of social disharmony and friction. In fact, the racial tension that has marked French society from time to time is rooted not so much in religion as in ethnicity.

It is therefore difficult to understand the need for the ban on the headscarf, except as a political ploy to win support of the far right which backs the National Front in the regional polls next month.

Even if this law wins President Chirac some electoral gains, its long-term repercussions are bound to prove an obstacle to social integration in France and could have a negative fallout politically, socially and also vis-a-vis its foreign policy.

At the heart of the matter is the French approach to multiculturalism and secularism. While one would appreciate the French society's commitment to a system which keeps religion out of public life and government, this hardly requires every citizen to abandon his religious faith, especially when he can balance secularism with his personal beliefs and values.

By and large the Muslims in France have displayed much flexibility in their approach, in spite of the discrimination they have suffered in political and public life.

Rather than addressing the problem of the unjust marginalization of the minorities, it is a pity that the French government has taken a step that smacks of racism, negates the fundamental rights of a big segment of its population and will strain its relations with many states.

-- The Dawn, Karachi