Against the backdrop of much fanfare and polemic, France’s controversial prohibition on face-veiling comes into force today. The law has met with derision and scepticism internationally, and internally, from a surprising source, in the guise of a police union which “denounced” the law as “unenforceable”. The law, which was passed by the Senate in September,(…)
The Conseil Constitutionnel, France’s Constitutional Court, handed down its ruling yesterday on the constitutionality of the legislative prohibition on the wearing, in public space, of “any dress intended to cover the face” . This does not directly refer, but is nonetheless broadly intended as encompassing, the Islamic burqa and niqab – the objects of much polemic(…)
On 23 March 2010, Mary White TD was appointed as Minister of State for Integration, Equality and Human Rights at the Department of Community and Gaeltacht Affairs. She controls a budget of 5.35 million euro. On March 27, she made this brief speech, setting out her aims for the new post. In that speech she said: We are all aware(…)
This post features an interview with Prof. Sherene Razack, conducted by our regular blogger Mairead Enright. Sherene Razack is professor, Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. Her most recent book is entitled Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims From Western Law and Politics.(…)
In this podcast recorded earlier in August, our regular blogger Mairead Enright conducts a wide-ranging interview with Seyla Benhabib; the Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science and Political Philosophy at Yale University. We apologise for the poor quality of the sound in places – the interview was recorded over a bad line. You may need to(…)
Following months of bruising polemic and debate, the French National Assembly – the lower house of parliament – has, as expected, overwhelmingly approved legislation prohibiting face-coverings in public spaces. Although phrased in facially neutral terms, the measure is broadly understood as being directed at the Islamic burqa and niqab. The bill will be debated in(…)
As signalled by SATC2, the burqa is losing none of its attraction. In Australia, a Christian Democratic MP, the Reverend Fred Nile, has tabled a bill aimed at prohibiting women from wearing the burqa which will be debated by the New South Wales Parliament in September, despite opposition from the Premier. Elsewhere in Australia, the(…)
We have written about France and the veil several times (see here) but, unfortunately, this issue is not going away. There seems to be a new development every week. Last Wednesday, the French government approved a draft law banning the wearing of garments which cover the face in public spaces. It is clear from the(…)
Today, May 21st, is the World Day for Cultural Diversity. This annual celebration of world diversity follows on from the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity by UNESCO in 2001. The General Assembly welcomed the Declaration and the Action Plan, which includes this day of celebration, to further its aims. The Declaration contains a number(…)
Last month, a French-born convert to Islam (pictured left with Lies Hebbadj) was fined 22 euros in Nantes for driving while wearing a niqab on the basis that it was an impediment to her safe driving. This story has been elevated to the point where it threatens to prompt a change in French nationality law.(…)
