I Have Mixed Feelings about the French Burqa Ban

The leader of the French Parliament, Jean-François Copé, has restated his intention to ban the Burqa (see pic) in France.

He plans to put forward a law to impose fines of up to €750 ($1050) for anyone who appears in public with their faces covered, and there would, "Stiffer punishments would be laid down for men who 'forced' their wives or daughters to wear full-body veils."

There would be exceptions for the wearing of masks on "festive occasions," which means, I guess that Halloween has become an institution in France too.

Interestingly enough, Nicolas "President Bling Bling" Sarkosy is trying to slow this down, though one wonders, considering his statements about having a "debate on national identity" got the ball rolling, how sincere he is.

It's clear that the politics play into some very base feelings, but there is a legitimate question about what is, or should be appropriate public behavior in any society, even a modern Western society.

While societies should be accommodating, there does have to be a line drawn.

I believe that a head scarf (Hijab) should be allowed both in public and the workplace, I do think that the Burqa, and it's slightly less extreme cousins the Niqab and Chador are over when used outside of a religious observance.

The politics here get really weird though:

Yesterday the veteran far-right leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, also rejected the need for new legislation against the burka, perhaps surprisingly. He said that the existing French legal code already banned masks in public places. "All they need to do is apply the law," he said.

Le Pen opposes the Burqa ban? Le Pen?!!?!? I do not understand French politics.

I would also note that the number of people who wear the extreme coverings in France is well small, perhaps 2,000 out of a female Muslim population of 1½ million, so either it's a problem that does not need to be addressed, or it's one that can be nipped in the bud, depending on where you feelings lie in this matter.

As I said at the beginning, I am conflicted: I think that the Burqa is a very bad thing, but I'm still not sure if it rises to the level of a problem that requires a formal prohibition under law.