Veil ban bid debate rages

As controversy rages over France's stand over the wearing of the veil in public and outrage over the vandalism of a mosque which led to calls by the French Council of the Muslim Faith for the setting up of a parliamentary panel to studying rising Islamophobia, GulfWeekly's Shilpa Chandran asked the French Ambassador to Bahrain Yves Oudin what happened to a nation renowned for its diplomacy or 'L' Entente cordiale' as far as the Muslim world was concerned.

A French parliament report has called for a ban on the full Islamic veil, saying Muslim women who wear the burqa were posing an 'unacceptable' challenge to French values.

After six months of hearings, a panel of 32 legislators recommended a ban on the face-covering veil in all schools, hospitals, public transport and government offices, the broadest move yet to restrict Muslim dress in France.

'The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic. This is unacceptable,' the report said. 'We must condemn this excess'.

But according to Bahrain's French Ambassador Yves Oudin the matter is simply a 'healthy expression of democracy' and just the French way of dealing with social issues.

He said: "In France we like to debate upon socio-political issues and various experts, intellects, academics, politicians and journalists debate between themselves. For example, we have even staged a debate on humour in politics.

"It is very interesting as it is important to see the arguments from people for and those against issues of the day.

"The committee has presented a balanced report and the question now is about whether it will be transformed into law."

The 200-page parliamentary report recommended a partial ban on women wearing Islamic face veils in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport.

It also recommends that anyone showing visible signs of 'radical religious practice' should be refused residence cards and citizenship.

A former student of philosophy, Mr Oudin explained that it was important for people to express themselves through words rather than gestures or violence.

He said: "Through this one question, several others have risen, for instance, thoughts on the fundamental values of French society, secularism, gender equality values and the national, collective, international and 'self identity' in this very volatile world which is changing and globalising.

"It helps us to ask ourselves questions like what are our allegiances - are they religious, a national one or ethnicity?

"Even in Bahrain, people were discussing the issue through letters in the newspapers - some favourable and others hostile. So debates are very good ... also it is very French!"

Mr Oudin believes that wearing the niqab or burkha was not a matter of religion rather one of culture and tradition.

He said: "I am not an expert in Islam. It is difficult to identify the real cause for women to wear the burqa or niqab. I was in Kabul two years ago for a couple of months and I saw many women wearing the burqa and begging. Maybe in that particular case, the burqa was worn out of dignity, because they don't want to be recognised when begging?"

Mr Oudin, who has been appointed to serve French interests in Bahrain since August 2008, believes the veil debate will not hamper the existing strong ties between the two counties.

He said: "Bahrain is an important country for us because it is in the heart of the GCC. We have a very good relationship and personal rapport with the kingdom.

"There are some important projects being signed up for example the French company GDF Suez has signed a power and desalination plant deal in Bahrain."

There are also believed to be more than 1,400 French nationals living in the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the commission in France has stopped short of proposing broad legislation to outlaw the burqa in the streets, in shopping centres and other public venues after raising doubts about the constitutionality of such a move.

"The wearing of the full veil is the tip of the iceberg," said communist lawmaker Andre Gerin, the chair of the commission, who presented the report to the parliament speaker.

"There are scandalous practices hidden behind this veil," claimed Gerin who vowed to fight the 'gurus' he said were seeking to export a radical brand of fundamentalism and sectarianism to France.

The commission called on parliament to adopt a resolution stating that the all-encompassing veil was 'contrary to the values of the republic'and proclaiming that 'all of France is saying 'no' to the full veil'.

But President Nicolas Sarkozy has sought to reassure France's estimated six million Muslims, saying in a speech at a cemetery for French Muslim soldiers that freedom to practice religion was enshrined in the constitution.