Sarkozy and the Burqa- I say Bravo despite everything!

Since I read about it, news of the strong comments by the French President against the Burqa has been running in my mind. I am still debating whether he has taken an extremely bold step or just stirred up a hornet’s nest?

There is no doubt that the Burqa or any such garments or accessories (shoes, breast and waist bands as in the case of the Japanese) that restrict an individual’s physical freedom and are meant to curb their natural flow, should be done away with. But the question here is that if these are clearly religious symbols, is it the State’s place to do so? France is a secular nation, which means it treats all religions equally giving preference to none. But by actively commenting upon the religious practices of one community it is violating that very secularism.

Those favoring this move state that the Burqa is not a religious practice but a social one. Which is to say that the Quran does not require a Muslim woman to wear it but rather the conservative Islamic societies the world over promote this tradition. Therefore the State, as a preserver of societal values in a country, is right in commenting upon it. But we must not forget that Islam is a communal religion-, which is to say that unlike Hinduism, Jainism and such religions it focuses on the community life of the individual rather than his or her private internal faith and spirituality. Practices such as mass prayers, contributions of a part of the income to the community and even Sharia, all indicate that in Islam the lines between the social and the religious are unclear. So the Burqa must be treated as a religious practice in that sense and not just a social one. By that token Sarkozy may just have crossed the boundaries of Secularism here.

But what if a religious practice is anti-social and harms a section of society? Should the state remain silent on it? In India the practice of Sati and Human sacrifice were both quasi-religious practices, they were banned by the British and the ban was endorsed by the Governments of independent India. No one would disagree that this was the right thing for the Government of India to have done. Then by the same token, we must also support this step taken by the French Government. The public ban on the Burqa is an attempt to free Muslim women of the restrictions imposed by such practices and give them the equality and freedom they deserve. (Where the Indian situation maybe different from the present scenario in France is that the ban on Sati and Human sacrifice dealt with the majority community of India- Hindus. Muslims on the other hand are a minority in France and this action maybe viewed as discriminatory if not handled correctly.)

To conclude, this action of the French President and his Government will be debated and commented upon for a long time to come and only time will tell how the larger Islamic World reacts to it. In a Global atmosphere where it takes so little to injure egos, this could be seen as yet another step by the West to alienate the Muslims. But if the French have decided to set down the bold path where religion must be a private matter and all it’s overt signs (if in any way against basic Frenchness) restricted from public display, then it must take care to apply these rules to all communities. I for one would be curious to see what Sarkozy has to say about the use of head scarves by Christian nuns. But for now I am going to side with him and say, Bravo! Someone had to do it.