as if that would solve the issues these women face. all banning this garment will do is force these women to stay home.

True. However, the burqa is an extreme security risk. You really don't know who or what is under one of those things.

Just a few examples:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinen...

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2006/11/niqabs-and-burqas-as-security-th...

This whole "diversity" racket is going to get us all killed one day.

Rather than trying to force people to change their attire due to a fear that ... people are being forced to wear certain attire, the French government should put money into making sure that women of all religions and ethnic groups have the education, support and safe haven to be aware they can make their own decisions and leave if their decisions make their situations unsafe.

Looking at banning the Burqa is treating a symptom, not trying to come up with a solution. furthermore, it is far too broad sweeping to say that EVERY woman who wears a Burqa is being oppressed and needs to be saved.

I think we Americans have some skewed ideas of what people should and shouldn't do, based on what we do and don't do. We don't wear burqa, so anyone who wears it must be oppressed, right? That's an incredibly biased, ignorant assumption; I do know many who freely wear the burqa (or something almost entirely like it) here in America and not a single one of them is "subjugated;" in fact, they are strong and confident, obviously confident enough to go against the norm for religious purposes. I'm a Muslim woman, and while I may not don a burqa myself, I think that banning it is preventing some women from their right to wear what they feel is religiously ordained. To them it is a religious garb; if France wants to protect rights, that should protect the people's right to freely practice their respective religions.

A government shouldn't have the right to tell people that the way they dress as a practice of religion is wrong. Some women actually choose to wear the burqa outside of the home. My mom is not a particularly strict Muslim, but she's open to wearing a hijab or a burqa once she has done the hadj because that is her choice.

Also, wearing a burqa in public is nothing compared to being forbidden to drive or work or even go outside the home without supervision. It's a small price to pay to go outside if you live in a strict home.

If the government wants to forbid burqas, it should be because of security measures [like being able to identify people] and not because of perceived oppression.

RBF - I have to say in this particular case the problem is not Americans so much as "Western Society". I think there is a lot of assumption based upon non-western religion and cultures. I don't necessarily think it's impossible to understand why - it's hard to make a concise opinion based upon what you see on TV or people you see on the street and do not talk to.

That said, I think a government should definitely hold itself to higher standards than the general population though.

This is so sad. France, do not legislate what women can wear.

Hmmm some women wear burqas because they choose too. But this...

True. However, the burqa is an extreme security risk. You really don't know who or what is under one of those things.

This whole "diversity" racket is going to get us all killed one day.

.... is the most intolerant statement I've ever heard in my entire life. You can't ban burqas or think a certain (and very large) group of people are going to "kill us all" because of what a few people do. The same could be said for hoodies, sweatshirts, baggy pants, etc. so unless all those clothing articles are going to be banned then you're missing the point or incredibly xenophobic (which i think you are incredibly xenophobic because you specifically said "diveristy racket is going to get us killed one day" but I digress).

Frank y Ava,

I've got a pair of flannel pajama bottoms of which I am pretty sure I could smuggle two sacks of potatoes inside. I must be a terrorist. We must ban flannel pj bottoms!

i'm taking a class on the european union's views of muslisms, and all i have to say is that the french treatment of muslims is about as bad as the way americans treated blacks fifty years ago. it truly saddens me that a country that claims to be the epicenter of enlightenment ideals would forgo individual rights for the claim of protecting "freedom" and "democracy." and yes, i am talking about france.

I personally don't like the burqa, saying this as Muslim woman. But for France to outright ban a type of clothing is one of the most primitive, backwards, uncivilized ways they could of handled the situation. Burqa a security risk? You know what I actually think there could be a fear. You don't know who could be hiding under it... I'm saying this as a Muslim woman, who has heard of stories from my parent's home countries(Muslim countries). But I 100 percent believe and can even think of other ways to resolve the security risk. But to ban it, even if their intention was good, it seems very prejudiced and discriminatory. And that is the message they have sent the world, even if they didn't mean to. The US and the UK come across as (and actually are) far more civilized countries. Not perfect, but when push comes to shove, they really are great places to live.

I'm French, and personnaly, I am favourable to this legislation. These women are in France, and in our country women have a lot of rights. Wear a burqa is an extreme behaviour, it is not just a yashmak ( with it, we see the face of the person with who we are talking). I don't think it is a question of tolerance towards muslims ( fundamentalists in this case), it is just a question of women's rights, and of security ( authorities have to see the face of citizens).

Sweet. Haven't been called that in quite some time. Anykittens, I was probably unclear. Allow me to clarify, please.
I love going into Chicago and loosing myself in the different towns--Chinatown, Greektown, Koreatown, you get the point. The goal here is cultural immersion. Food, language, culture and mannerisms...and hopefully I come off as one step up from a tourist. I interact with these people because I want to, not because I am forced into the interaction. This whole "diversity and tolerance" racket speaks of force.
As for the security issue, I will not apologize for thinking the burqa is a threat. Believe me, I understand the need for modesty!! But, that's what the hijab and long sleeved pants and shirts are for. You can be modest and covered to your heart's content. Muslim women in Australia have even worked as lifeguards using the burqini! I am aware that there is great debate as to a woman's awrah. But, the key here is that you can and must be able to be identified.

(There was a case in Hamtramck, MI, where a judge asked the plaintiff to remove her niqab to testify in his court. She refused and the judge threw out the case. He could not see her face to verify her testimony.)

The comparison between sweatshirts/pants, etc. really doesn't fly. A skilled criminal can hide things pretty much anywhere. But, you have a few things working against a burqa. The face is totally obscured. It is essentially a ghost costume--yards and yards of billowing material. (Some of which is very pretty, but that's beside the point.) You can also hide a whole lot of stuff under there. Plus, the bad guys know that they can't be touched while wearing a burqa. What guard wants to take the chance of lifting a burqa?

(Don't get me wrong. I understand the gargantuan woman's rights issue here. No burqua, no leaving home. Woman's rights groups both here and abroad are stepping up to help Muslim women acquire more freedom.)

Don't you think that if someone wanted to bomb a place, they would do so regardless of wearing a Burqa? I also have to question the govt.'s motive considering the way Muslims in France are treated, is it their way of driving Muslim women to stay in the home? I don't know, but I think the question is a relevant one to ask.

It's a tricky situation. When Burqas were banned in Uzbekistan, the women who went out without them were all killed because of it.

Of course it's different there, because a woman NOT wearing one in modern-day France will probably not stick out as much as a woman not wearing one in Uzbekistan forty years ago...

If France is going to ban burqas in public, they must do so - whatever reason they cite - for the protection of the GENERAL PUBLIC, and treat any case of domestic abuse (if some women ARE found to be forced to wear the burqa) on an individual basis. If the burqa, however, is an oppressive form of clothing in *itself* (meaning that wearing it is MEANT to diminish or degrade the woman), THEN it should be banned entirely. It doesn't seem like that is the case though (I don't know much about what the burqa means symbolically or religiously).

I don't think it's right for any government to stoop as low as to dictate what you can and cannot wear.
That being said, all of the banks in my area have signs ordering people to remove hats and sunglasses before entering for security reasons. It does make me feel uncomfortable when I can't see someones face, but that's just me.

I'm so sick of this...A women in a burqa doesn't automatically mean she's subjugated and illiterate, or recently, a terrorist.

I wear a 'burqa' (everything covered except hands, feet and eyes) and I have since my teens. It's my decision, one which my husband supports. It's based on my understanding of what my religion asks of me. No country has the right to take away my right to cover myself as I see fit.

Covering oneself in Islam basically is a symbol of modesty and respecting oneself. I can wear whatever I want and do whatever, but at home with my husband. When I go out, I cover myself so I'm not a plaything for others to look at and judge. I view it as a sign that I respect myself, my husband, my marriage, and my religion.

My covering myself isn't meant to bother or offend anyone else. Where one culture views taking off hats (in court, during the anthem, etc.) as respectful, another might view the covering of oneself with a hat/scarf (in a mosque) as most respectful.

The comments about someone in a burqa being a security risk do bother me, though. I go through security at airports and such frequently. I'm ready to be patted down, I'm willing to lift my veil to show my face, I can even remove my burqa if necessary; as long as it's in front of a female. If there absolutely is no female available, I'm willing to work with them. Actually, Muslim countries are the worst at this. I've had no problems ever in Western airports. There's always female staff available and they're very accommodating. It's the officials at Muslim airports that are buffoons about how to handle these situations. I digress, my point is that a burqa does not equal a security risk.

I get where you're coming from carnation. Thanks for explaining your point of view.

I am dreadfully torn about this. On one hand, I'm a liberal. I've protested dozens of times against the Iraq war and think it's a war crime. I want total respect for all religions, think the west should stop interfing with the economies and politics of Middle Eastern counties to plunder their oil and resources.

On the other, I just cannot see a burqa as anything but a symbol as that culture's patriarchal oppression of women. I think that stopping women from being inculcated into a system of making them ashamed to show their bodies is worthwhile.

I just don't know. I know that Islam is spreading like wildfire in France right now. I can understand why they'd find it threatening.

I think it's all a personal decision, and I find it interesting that someone who can support a woman's right to choose anything to do with her own body, would try to justify telling Muslim women that they can't choose to wear a garment that has personal religious context in their own lives. I personally wouldn't choose to wear a burqa but I don't find that there is anything wrong with it. I don't think allowing women who choose to express their religious views in that way is a danger to anyone else. I'm not a Muslim woman but I do know that they are not all forced to wear the burqa. Some women take great pride in their modesty and in practicing the tenets of their faith. why should any governments be able to regulate that? Especially a government based in democracy? The whole idea just seems hypocritical to me.

I think it's time for the west to stop trying to force their own culture on others. I recently took a "comparative politics" course. The ENTIRE course looked at democratization with very little time spent looking at anything other than democracy or converting authoritarian countries to democracy, or the possibility of democracy in Islamic countries. And I thought it was absurd that only about one chapter in the 17 I read for the class actually mentioned the idea that MAYBE democracy wasn't the best thing for ALL countries.

I think that sometimes an authoritarian government, or a theocracy, or an oligarchy MIGHT be the best situation for a country depending on the people living there.

Point being: Just because the west sees burqas as something "bad" doesn't mean they are. While I'm all for women's rights (and by "rights" I mean equality, not OMG SUPERFEMINAZI!") because I believe in the equality of all people regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, economic level, etc. However, banning the burqa is France FORCING a certain ideal on a culture, restricting women's freedom to wear what she chooses and restricting religious rights for an entire religion.

^ Very well said, I completely agree

I dont believe that anyone should tell another what to wear during day to day life.
However people should show their face when having their drivers license or passport photos taken, because of security.

Modesty is taught in all religions in a way or other. Islam, Christianity and Judaism, the major religions of the world teach women to cover their bodies so that purity and chastity may be maintained within the society. If Mr Sarkozy has no problem with the women waking around in minimum or no cloths, why he is afraid of Muslim women wearing Burqa?
I think it is violation of human rights if a government forces any one not to follow his or her religion. The govt of France must not go for a ban on the Burqa.

I think they should be banned in America!!!!! You do not know if Bin Laden is under one of these. Send them back where they belong. Most act like they can not speak English here in the States. Also Torroist are in the Mosques right here in the USA!