The recent decision in France to ban religious symbols and clothing has left many Americans and University community members confused and unsettled.
With hopes to increase cohesion among the French people and solidify France’s separation of church and state, President Jacques Chirac has called for a ban on wearing religious symbols and clothing in state schools and hospitals.
The proposed rule seeks to ban Muslim head scarves, known as hajibs, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses. Since the mid-December request, the law has come under immense controversy in both France and abroad.
Locally, Abed Mubarak, Imam of the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge and owner of Atcha Bakery and Cafe, said in this day and age he is shocked by the news.
He also explained that in the Islamic community the hajib is a symbol of morality and respect for women.
Mubarak added that it is important to voice opposition to government and let it be a personal messenger.
“Like a bully, if he didn’t see resistance, he will ask for more,” Mubarak said. “We have to stand up for our rights and stop the bully before he intimidates more.”
In the United States such laws would be a direct violation of First Amendment rights, and many around the world see the nationwide ban as a shocking infringement on religious expression. However, to many French the issue is about secularism.
John Protevi, a University associate professor of French Studies, said “laicité” is a strict
separation between private religion and public functions, and is very important in French society.
“[Laicité] is a key value of the French Republic, born out of what was felt to be centuries of Catholic domination and violent repression,” Protevi said. “But another key French value is control of ‘le peuple,’ avoiding anything that might upset the public order. Putting these two together, we can see that what for Americans would be a right of self-expression, [displaying a religious symbol] might be seen by Chirac as a dangerous provocation.”
Although it just recently caught international attention, France has been dealing with this issue for several years. In 1995 the Department of Education placed the hajib decision in the hands of each individual school.
With the dramatic rise of expulsion cases for Muslim students who refuse to remove their veils, French officials recently decided to address the issue on a national scale.
Although Paris newspaper “Le Parisien” reported that nearly 70 percent of French citizens agree with the ban, many of France’s 5 million Muslims and other minority groups believe fear and discrimination are still the general motivation of the law.
Teaching Pastor Kevin McKee at the Chapel on the Campus said he did not believe the newly-proposed law would solve the underlying problem in France.
“If you’re trying to neutralize hostilities, I don’t think your going to do it by banning symbols.” McKee said. “You’ll have to change the heart.”