06.23.2009 10:59 am
What justifies the proposed ban on the Muslim burka?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
French lawmakers are once again considering a ban on burkas or full veils worn by Muslim women.
Last Monday, President Nicolas Sarkozy controversially told lawmakers that the traditional Muslim garment was “not welcome” in France, according to CNN.
The right of Muslim women to cover themselves is fiercely debated in France, which has a large Muslim minority but also a staunchly secular constitution.
In 2004, the French parliament passed legislation banning Muslim girls from wearing headscarves in state schools, prompting widespread Muslim protests. The law also banned other conspicuous religious symbols including Sikh turbans, large Christian crucifixes and Jewish skull caps.
Despite those who call…
