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The Ban Should Not Be Banned

Decent Essays

Ever since France introduced its so called “burqa ban” in 2011, there have been many cases involving the Muslim women who choose to wear these veils. Not only are understanding women being fined for their choice of dress, mainly the niqab, which leaves a slit for the eyes, but an increasing number of defendants are being tried for attacking them (Ramdani). The law only has affected a small number of women; out of an estimated 5 million Muslims living in France, only around 1,900 women were concerned by the ban in 2011 (Willsher). However, the ban has made Muslim women in full face veils, or niqab banned from any public activity including walking down the street, taking a bus, going to the shops or collecting their children from school. …show more content…

The main argument against the ban is that it infringes upon individual freedoms such as freedom of religion and expression (Wade). Veils such as the chador, scarves, and other headwear that do not cover the face, are not affected by this law and can be worn. The law imposes a fine of up to 150 euro and/or participation in citizenship education, for those who violate the law. The bill also penalizes, with a fine of 30,000 euro and one year in prison, anyone who forces another wear face coverings. As a result of the law, the only exceptions to a woman wearing a niqab in public will be if she is traveling in a private car or worshipping in a religious place. The law was challenged and taken to the European Court of Human Rights which upheld the French law on the first of July, 2014, accepting the argument of the French government that the law was based on “a certain idea of living together” (Chrisafis, “France’s Headscarf War…”). However, after the implementation of this law, verbal and physical abuse has increased toward women of the Muslim faith wearing headwear. Islamophobic attacks in France more than doubled between 2011, when the act was implemented and a year following in 2012, with women in headscarves the principal target, accounting for seventy-seven percent of victims of physical or verbal attacks, according to the French Collective Against Islamophobia. Tensions increased by recent

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