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April 10th, 2011
01:19 PM ET
France's controversial burqa ban takes effectParis (CNN) - French police arrested two veiled women protesting the country's law banning face-hiding Islamic burqas and niqabs Monday, just hours after the legislation took effect. The arrests outside Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris were not for wearing the prohibited garments. Police say the women were instead arrested for participating in an unauthorized protest. But the incident reflected the high passions the ban has incited among some Muslims. One woman who disapproves of the ban said no one forces her to wear the niqab, a full-face veil with an opening for her eyes, and she should be left alone. "I've not committed a crime," said Hind Amas, who was not among those arrested. "I'm walking peacefully in the street. I've not attacked anyone." Read about American women who wear Islamic headscarves The ban pertains to the burqa, a full-body covering that includes a mesh over the face, as well as the niqab. The hijab, which covers the hair and neck but not the face, and the chador, which covers the body but not the face, apparently are not banned by the law. Read about two Tennessee sisters who wear the hijab "The ban does not target the wearing of a headscarf, head gear, scarf or glasses, as long as the accessories do not prevent the person from being identified," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Read the full story about France's burqa ban taking effectsoundoff (1,962 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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If you were in a bank or crowded maket and someone had their face complete covered with anything, doesn't have to be a burqa, would your primary concern be their religion? Let's get honest here.
The French think they are so civilized and progressive. Taking away rights, yeah good job.
Trying to move 'forward' as an intelligent society and end the oppression religion has caused for thousands of years... yeah... horrible idea.
Its not up to you or anyone else to make them "move forward". They have a right to practice their religion as they see fit as long as they aren't harming anyone. I could think something you do or believe in is backwards, should I force you to change? Its none of my business. And their personal lives is none of France's business. France is saying, "conform to our culture or we will persecute you." That is wrong.
This isn't a Christian versus Muslim issue.
France is, by the democratic vote of the French citizenry, a SECULAR SOCIETY which bans ALL religious symbols in schools & the workplace.
i.e. Christians can't wear crosses, crucifixes or other religious symbols. THAT was in the news a few years ago!
And the French government responded to the "I just want to express my religion" protests by stating that France is a secular society, religion is a private matter, all religions are respected, and the best route to greater tolerance among divergent groups is to minimize inflammatory differences. Thus the ban on the display of all overt religious symbols in public.
France originally developed the concept that it is a secular society in opposition to the wide spread influence of the Catholic Church, it had nothing to do with Islam.
This is a monumental culture clash. The same one experienced by immigrants everywhere. If you move to (or visit) a different county, for some strange reason, that new country is going to expect, and demand, that you follow their social customs & laws! And your children will grow up in this new environment. They will be citizens of the new country and more likely to know those values as their own. Quite a challenge for the uneducated and unaware!
Thanks for the added information! Was not aware how across the board they have already been in the past. I hope people 'read' what you've written here and take note.
I think you might be mixing Secularism with Atheistism. In the name of security, the US hereby bans all personal gun ownership besides those who are involved in Law Enforcement or DOD. Hmmm? You are right, those who are unware ...something something... Guess it's time to look in the mirror. This is not about religion, but freedom.
@ Joan in Orange County
" Quite a challenge for the uneducated and unaware!"
Or, in the case of the immigrants, the unwilling.
I was told by a Frenchman that there are more problems with the children or grandchildren of immigrants than the immigrants themselves. They feel estranged from French society and turn to extremist beliefs as a way to assert their difference.
[shaking head] WOW! can't tell France how to place their government rules because I am American and I for sure would prefer the right to maintain the right ot believe the way I like and not be told by anyone in America how I worship whether it be catholic ,baptists ,jewish or muslim or for that fact atheist . This has gotten so out of control the hatred that the human race has become ugly. very ugly. shame . Think I will go pretend I am a wolf.
Firstly the burka is not a religious garment, but rather a cultural addition to a religious concept (a rather extreme addition)... the covering of the hair with hajib is in the Qu'ran as a means for modesty, protecting the woman from being coerced to chase false beauty such as Hollywood instills. It's a symbol, obviously not truly covering a woman fully... the cultural burka takes that into the extreme, and instead of as a 'symbol' of this self worth of a woman's beauty... it completely covers them in their male dominated societies. Thus, it's a cultural garment. If you were raised in a nudist colony, we would not allow you to walk around naked.
Dave, you keep blaming Hollywood, but what are you really saying? Hollywood is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA.
@ stejo
Jews. Hollywood is full of lying Jews. Jews, Jews, Jews.... It's always about the Jews.
Oi, gevald!
europe is about 10 years ahead of us in realizing the islamic threat plaguing the west. unfortuneately, we americans are not there yet. good for france. viv la france!
So we should be controlled by Christianity? or Judaism?... How about we start thinking for ourselves rather than being controlled by 'any' religion.
@ Dave
Show me the accommodations -demanded- by non-Islamic faiths.
Show me the contemporary world-wide terror practiced by non-Islamic faiths.
Show me the little snit-fits and allegations of oppression by non-Islamic faiths.
Finally, It should be banned in the universe. If you don't like France move to Pakistan or Saudi Arab. Muslim is the worst religion that could happen to mankind
Deport those disable women and husbands no matter if they were born in France.
if you are christian in iran, you must wear a head scarf in public. if you are women, you cannot wear shoes or enter a mosque in iran. if you are christian, you may not worship freely or have a church in saudi arabia. if these countries have laws that we follow, then they should follow the laws put forth by france.
ra-ja-min: put the doobie down and get a life. quit fuc-ing up your brain with that sh-t.
Guess when they start banning guns in America, those who like guns should go where? Guess ship all you back to the jungles of Africa where you belong. Oh yeah, all your ancestors were Africans. "Go back to where you came from?" "If you don't like it here, then leave?" A bunch of ranting heathens.
What would happen if someone wearing a burqa walks into a bank or airport? Just wondering if anyone has ever witnessed such a thing.
There are signs at banks here in CA which say you cannot wear hat, sunglasses inside the bank.
Full body scanners don't care if you're wearing clothes all over your body.
I actually like other cultures and religions, in an inclusive multicultural society, it is part of my culture.
As a 60 year old "white" guy,. I like the colour and diversity, I am not any more or less offended at a niqab than I am at a 60 year old white guy wearing a belaclava which would not suit me either. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with security and safety. Only or a a fool would immigrate to a secular country and then try to impose their non secular religious beliefs. The vast majority are able to integrate into what must be a strange and different secular culture which, to their credit, must be very difficult. There is no reason why we should expect that any race or culture should have a lower number of idiots than the per capita that we arleady enjoy here so yes there will be some people that just don't get it. Our politics and law are separate from religion and our culture is multidimentional and tolerant. I know a lot of Muslims and they understand this and love this country as much as the rest of us, for the small percentage that wish to impose their non secular culture as a layer over us all, they really need to understand that this will cause a great deal of conflict, not succeed and they may be much happier somewhere else which can accomodate all their needs, please understand, it is quite simple, it isn't going to happen here.
The the Burka is banned than the yamaka should be banned also. Both are religious garments. People are so ignorant. How does the day they dress affect you at all? And, most of you people criticizing this are probably racist tea party members who are about liberty, yet when the government restricts a certain style of dress, its justice? Come on.
Saying what you said and then saying people are so ignorant is the definition of irony.
a yamaka doesn't obscure the face.
The burka is 'not' in the Qu'ran. The hajib is.
It's a yarmulke, not a yamaka, ignoramujs.
What would happen if someone wearing a burga walks into a bank or airport? Just wondering if anyone has ever witnessed such a thing.
The same people who would call me an ugly American for going to a Muslim country and not abiding by their laws and customs or not liking a law if it affected me adversely, are the same goofballs mad at France for this ban (other than the Islamic extremists who believe they have a right to go to a country and tell it how to behave). If you don't like France or the laws of France...LEAVE FRANCE!!!
Great. Next France will start making them use toilet paper...
Islam is the plague disease of this time
Islam is not what you are seeing in the middle east. Islam is a culture that worships the same God as Judaism and Christianity.
"Islam is a culture that worships the same God as Judaism and Christianity."
You mean the same, non-existent fairy.
No argument from me there Jason, but it is an interesting fact as most of the Muslim hate mongerers are Christians educated by Hollywood in the USA.
I've never been bothered by a woman in a burka. Not a real issue to normal people. A government created issue to stir up trouble and give them something to do.
Thats because you do not yet live in a country where whole swathes of major cities, including Paris, are defacto under Sharia law because the people go to Imams rahter than the police for disputes and do not report beatings for girls dating boys, adultery, etc. because the law comes from a "higher authority." That is you don't yet...
Are you of the gender who would be forced to wear one?
I live in a big city with lots of Muslims- in fact- just got my coffee from one just a few minutes ago. Again- no Muslim has ever bothered me- and no women in a burka has ever bothered me. Mind your own business. If your own culture is so weak- that these people threaten you? That's your problem.
Arab women even in France will continue to cower in the face of thier backwards minded husbands and wear the stupid veil. Islamic wmoen will however eventually wise up and realize they are not ugly and no need to cover their faces!
You come to a country, you assimilate to their culture. Not the other way around. PC taken to a foolish extreme.
No- that isn't how it goes. Free countries don't tell people how to live with laws.
Yeah, and you have nothing against Hitler because he never bothered you.
Actually Charles, it's generally the extremely beautiful one's that 'choose' to cover their faces... obviously I'd prefer they didn't, but they choose to. Partially part of their, albeit extreme version, of their religion, or in less common cases at the behest of their conservative husbands... but not nearly as much as Hollywood would educate you.
Religion is a mental Disorder and a Disease. Islam is the most vile & retarded organized religion of them all. Islam is a horrible theocracy. They have no respect for 'infidels of other religious beliefs', No belief in Woman's human rights or education, Children's rights, Freedom of speech, Freedom of religion, Animal Rights, Gay rights... the list goes on.. The funny part is that they say they want democracy and freedom, but Islam + freedom is an oxymoron. You Cannot have a "free" Islamic Democracy. Political Correctness and Freedom of Religion will be the downfall of the USA. We have opened the barn doors, and all the animals are running free..
Please tell us what we should believe so we won't be vile?
Arrogance and hate for those with faith is just as much a disease as radical religious extremism. Your intellect should inspire some compassion for humanity... because compassion is the mark of truly wise human beings.
Krush, he has passion for humanity. That's why he's against religion.
Way to go France.... Set the example so other countries can follow.
I live in the USA and here the government is very politically correct about respecting religious rights – BUT YOU KNOW what EVEN here the government bans my religious right to smoke WEED! but CNN nor anyone cares or writes an article about why it is OK to ban this religious right!!! So I say lets TAX all churches and prohibit all public displays of religion except in churches and YES no politician should mention his deity or religion!!
Good point Raj-ja-min. Religious establishments should pay taxes. There is no reason I should pay taxes for someone else's church. Separation of church and state.
if the Islamic's don't lile it they should GOOOO back to the Arab world.
Charles, the majority of Muslims in the world don't live in Arab countries... fact.
Oh, and that's because they're not Arabs... wake up. The Jews have educated you with Hollywood.
Yeah, Arabs should go back to Middle east, The African-American back to Africa, The English,Irish, Italian and Germans back to Europe. I mean what the HEY! This land belongs to the Apache and ONLY the Apache– I specially dislike anyone here who came by boat, airplane, or have forefathers who where born in other continents- OOh and white people YOUUU are NOT AMERICANS!!! GIVE ME MY LAND BACK!
Most of the Islamists who live in France are from the Arab world. I know I live in Rully/Dijon.
I'm not Apache, but can I stay Cochise? Real nice land you got here...
Viva La Francais... Abdul Lobby, come tell my wife she is a sub-cultural.
People who refuse to assimilate should go home. In one generation I have learned to speak English as well or better than many of my American friends, and my parents are both from France.
I am Muslim American and I am so glad to know this will not (and should not) happen here. Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Expression (aka 1st amendment) is a great thing and for ALL of us, thankfully! God bless America:)
Ne joue pas avec moi..., Tu risque de perdre !bigot
@ Dee
Don't bet on it. The position of Islam as a religion is quickly falling into question. No one would put up with your nonsense if it wasn't for oil, and the higher that goes, the less tolerance is going to be shown towards Islam.
Methinks your days (and agenda) in the western world are numbered.