Related
Advertisements *
Elsewhere
Subscribe: RSS
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Subscribe: Email
![]() |
![]() Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Most Popular
- RNB Roundup: Atheism ads get tax support; Holland bans Magic Mushrooms; Fritzl turns to Buddhism; More…
- UK pastor who claimed to produce ‘miracle babies’ another step closer to extradition
- Europe court says no to turban on Sikh’s driving licence
- Two teens file lawsuit against evangelist Tony Alamo over beatings
- Decision expected this week on whether parents will face trial in faith healing death
- Church tries Goth Liturgy
- Ganas commune co-founder sues current and former members
- Japan: Security agency calls for extension of surveillance of Aum cult
- Mormon church publishes journal of founder Joseph Smith
- Judge allows reckless homocide charges in faith healing death of Madeline Neumann
France changes its ban on religious symbols to gain support, weaken protests
The government hoped for wide backing next week for a bill that would ban Islamic head scarves and other religious symbols in France’s public schools as opponents of the measure geared up for a new street protest against measure.
Two amendments generated by the opposition Socialists were adopted at the close of 21 hours and 30 minutes of parliamentary debate Thursday night. They included a last-minute compromise that allows a review of the law after a year to assess whether a change in language is needed.
The conservatives hope the concessions lead to wide backing in a Tuesday vote in the National Assembly to lend unequivocal legitimacy to the measure. The bill then moves to the Senate.
Critics say the planned law is discriminatory, an attack on religious freedom and likely to stigmatize France’s Muslim population, estimated at 5 million — the largest in Western Europe.
A protest march was set for Saturday to protest “Islamophobia” and the ban. Another protest is scheduled for Feb. 14.
A demonstration in Paris last month drew up to 10,000 people, with others protesting in cities around the world.
The Socialists have pushed for a ban on “visible” religious symbols in the classroom rather than “conspicuous” religious symbols as the legislation states.
The planned law also would outlaw the Jewish skullcap and large Christian crosses, but it is aimed at the Islamic headscarf that covers hair, ears and neck. It would take effect with the new school year in September.
The conservative party of President Jacques Chirac also accepted an amendment stressing the need for dialogue with students who break the law before they are expelled from school.
French leaders say the law is needed to protect the principle of secularism that underpins French society.
Both President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin have said that secularism is threatened by rising Islamic fundamentalism and a Muslim population looking increasingly inward rather than merging with the mainstream.
It was difficult to gauge in advance the turnout for the weekend march, organized by diverse, little known associations denouncing a “climate of racist violence and religious intolerance” and a “law of discrimination and exclusion.”
What You Can Do From Here
|
Read More Articles On These Topics
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Find Related Information
Find Related Books
|
Share This Article
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:



