Paris – France’s prime minister said Wednesday he would sign a decree refusing French nationality to a man who forced his wife to wear the full Islamic veil, arguing he “has no place in our country.”
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The case has arisen amid a fierce national debate about what it means to be French, with the government seeking to legislate for a ban on the head-to-toe burqa on the grounds that it is incompatible with French values.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told Europe 1 radio that he would sign the decree issued by Immigration Minister Eric Besson.
“It’s French law,” Fillon said. “The civil code has for a very long time provided that naturalization could be refused to someone who does not respect the values of the (French) republic.
“This case is about a religious radical: he imposes the burqa, he imposes the separation of men and women in his own home, and he refuses to shake the hands of women.
“If this man does not want to change his attitude, he has no place in our country. In any case, he does not deserve French nationality.”
The man’s name and nationality have not been made public, although Fillon said his wife was French and she could continue to wear the full veil, if she wants, pending legislation.
The decision came after a parliament report last week called for a ban on the burqa in schools, hospitals, government offices and public transport.
The French government is seeking legal advice before drafting legislation that would outlaw the burqa or niqab in as many areas as possible.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has declared the burqa “not welcome” in secular France and is in favor legislation to outlaw it, though he has also warned against stigmatizing Muslims.
Europe’s biggest Muslim minority
According to the interior ministry, only around 1,900 women wear the burqa in France, which is home to Europe’s biggest Muslim minority.
Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said last month that Muslim men who forced their wives to wear the full veil should not be granted citizenship.
Besson said Tuesday that during checks into the man’s application, he had explicitly stated that he would never allow his wife to go out without a full veil and that he believed that a woman “is an inferior being.”
Two years ago a French court denied citizenship to a veiled Moroccan woman on the grounds her “radical” practice of Islam was not compatible with French values.
A recent survey showed 57% of French people were in favor of a law banning the burqa.
Marine Le Pen, the deputy leader of the far-right National Front, said men who forced their wife to wear the full veil should be put on trial, convicted and expelled from the country.
In contrast, the leftist New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) said it was putting forward a candidate in March regional elections who wears a “light veil.”
In a statement, the NPA said the woman concerned was “a militant feminist, anti-capitalist and internationalist who believes she must wear the veil in accordance with her religions convictions.”
The wider debate over national identity has divided society, with critics arguing it is fomenting anti-foreigner and anti-Muslim sentiment and is little more than a grab for far-right votes ahead of the March poll.
Fillon said his government would hold a seminar next Monday to consider its conclusions from the debate.
OK,, here goes,, He was not in favor of citizenship because of the burka,, AND BECAUSE THIS MAN DOES NOT SHAKE HANDS WITH OTHER WOMEN!!! (I wonder if unshmeisen mit a shteken is in a different geder??? LOL
There’s no reason why people have to go dressed like in the above picture. The muslim men consider women inferior and that whole attitude has to stop.
Whats next? yarmulkes or shtreimlich?
Why would a religious extremist want to immigrate to a country whose mores and values are clearly unwelcoming? There are plenty of Islamic countries that promote burka wearing and patriarchal family relations that would presumably welcome him and his black-swaddled wife with open arms.
i hope the jewish groups get together to fight this decree. this is truly a violaion of Freedom of Religion and you never know wheer this is going to end.
As frum yidden we should be concerned. Soon they will pass a law against yarmulkas, beards, shaitlech, and any other non-french items.
As long as these women dress this way on their own free will, this should be allowed. If the husband forces her, then it’s a different story.
In my opinion, this has more to do with national security and is being disguised as “French values” . I believe France does not want terrorist dressing as women in disguise and hiding behind a veil.
Opponents will most likely bring sheitelach into their arguments, but I would counter argue that a sheitel enhances the women rather than covering them up and beautifying the woman fits right into France’s values. Additionally women can also wear hats and tichels which give them a choice rather than a burqua being forced upon them.
And in response to #6 , the BP and Williamsburg women would be classified as classy or well dressed or dressed businesslike. I dont think anyone in their right minds would call that abuse. Even many companies in corporate America have rules for dressing which is accepted by all no matter how hot it is outside.
The article is incorrect in one matter: A lot of eastern European countries have larger Muslim minorities than France, and some have Muslim majorities. It has been this way for centuries.
France, a land of style, may just go for the streimlach and yarmulkas!! Look at the hats the women wear!! Just like a regular yeshivish black hat!! and some of their fur hats look like shtreimlach too!!
Besides, dressing b’tznius is beautiful and praiseworthy. Dressing with a burqa is meant to make a statement about the women who wear it.
In think we are missing the point the issue here is the abuse and that it’s forcet upon this woman she is not dooing it out of her own free will while Jewish woman do it out of there own free will they have a choice
When we went to St. Moritz in Switzerland on shabbos my husband wore his hat instead of his streimel. Let the Muslims live where this dress is accepted.
ANother guy was walking with a streimel and pple were taking pictures.