Recently, France banned the wearing of supposedly all religious headgear in classrooms in Paris, where it hit especially hard with yes, Jewish students, but more than this, with Muslim students, many of whom felt that they in particular had been targeted by this new law that banned the wearing of religious jewelry and other items that could identify you as “different” – read, “not Catholic”.
Surely, I thought this was done in some misguided effort to spare these students some trouble at school. Perhaps other students had been picking on them, though a little research found that there was nothing of the sort. It was a law that seemed entirely arbitrary and was met with a great deal of resistance by the Islamic, Muslim community who felt that they in particular were being unfairly targeted. For example, crosses had not been entirely banned, at least not initially and not now that I know of. A student could wear a cross in this catholic country provided it was “discreet” and smaller than some arbitrarily measurement that I don’t’ know remember but I do know that however small it is, it’s still a cross and it’s still allowed. That crosses come in different sizes must just be the catholic or Christians luck, because headgear does not come in different sizes, you are either wearing a scarf for your faith or you are not. The color or size are of little consequence the scarf itself is noticed and notable for several students in Paris have already been expelled from a local high school for failing to conform to this new rule.
But the world is paying attention. The story has been featured on Reuters for days in a row and though it is, as is fitting a newswire, straight reporting, one gets the sense that they too see this as an important story for what it says, and what the French refuse to say, about civil liberties and isolating and targeting certain faiths. Of course, bien sur, the French deny this new law targets anyone faith in particular, there can be no doubt hat the bulk of students affecvte4d by it are those who supposedly would have ironically, been protected by being more anonymous. Was there a problem with Muslim beating in French schools that we hadn’t heard of? Where they being so unduly targeted that they too wanted to shed the veil and the scarf and be anonymous? If they did, we certainly hadn’t heard about it, and the majority of students seemed offended to have to check their faith at the door and head into a predominantly Catholic school without their faith, leaving their individualism at the front gate. If it seems unfair that is because it is unfair. So far, I have not seen or heard of any Jewish students being expelled – though to be fair maybe they have been more compliant, though I don’t see why they should take it more easily than any other group, or was it more likely that the small round cloth is more discreet. And again, not only are men targets of this in both faiths, but the women are perhaps even bigger targets for they are more inclined to wear their headgear, with the exception of perhaps Sikhs who must wear the turban no matter what, and technically, should also carry a blade of some kind, although I’ve heard nothing about that – its just the headgear they care about.
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Article comments
1 - Tony Dalmyn
I don't think the French were discriminating in favour of Catholics or Christians, but that's a factor. This law appealed to French conservatives because it does in fact discriminate against Muslims and immigrants. Most Muslims in France are members of immigrant groups that have maintained their identity and culture within French society while members of other religious groups are invisible in the mainstream of French culture. To the extent that Muslims are members of immigrant communities, it is an attack on their cultures and identities.
This law appeals to the French left because it is anti-religious. During the French Revolution, the government took control of the Church and tried to regulate religious practice. More priests and nuns than aristocrats went to the guillotine. There is a continuing tradition on the left side of French political thought that is against religion.
The French government says that this law respects religious freedom but is designed, to curb fundamentalism and to prevent children from being targeted by the intolerant.
Religious fundamentalism does seem to lead to terrorism and violence, which is something that everyone has to worry about, but I don't see that banning the display of religious symbols is going to change people's fundamental beliefs.
The idea that children who wear religious symbols are going to be targeted for bullying by bigots is a fancy rationalization for institutional bigotry. Are the parents of Muslim children are asking for trouble by insisting that their wear headscarves? It sounds to me like blaming the victim.
It seems to me that the French can't seem to agree that freedom of religion means more than the right to worship privately and secretly.
2 - Eric Olsen
Very difficult issue raised in very fine post and excellent comments by Tony. It's very complicated, but there isn't much doubt it is primarily directed at Muslims and their embarrassingly overt signs of religiosity. The French are a ver ycontradictory people, one the one hand kissing Islamic ass abroad, but repressing religious expression at home - thanks!
3 - sadi
thx. Tony and Eric both; i'm glad to learn so much from a comment... i think you should write about this issue, because you seem so truly knowledgable about this and i think what you say is true; it would appeal to the french left in terms of banning all religion from school, which is a choice, but sadly it is affecting mostly Muslim groups and that's too bad - it's wrong and for a country that wants to stay out of a war, it's an odd way of getting involved. maybe i'm missing something, which wouldn't surprise me -- but it strikes me as a really nasty and underhanded way of doing business, as the business that you note that preceded it as well. people have always fought over religion, and all this does is heighten that at a time when it really doesn't need to be heightened any more than it already is... alas.
and i love France, with my whole heart, i do but i just don't see the point in this if it's really targeting one group more than others. there's nothing liberal or left about that; even the aclu would agree, i think -- or hope.
thx. for such thoughtful comments and knowledgable responses both,
sadi