JDAM

Since 2004, France has placed a ban on head scarves in their public schools. This was part of a larger movement to outlaw all religious symbols and clothing from school in order to create a more secular environment. As one can imagine, This ha been a contraversial and very difficult rule for young Muslim women to deal with. On April 11, 2011, A new French law currently prohibits the wearing of burqas and any other forms of face veils. Women who are caught wearing these and men who are caught enforcing women to wear them can be arrested on the spot. The reasoning behind this law is to create more "tolerance" for all citizens of France. The government says they hope to discontinue any pressure that women face to wear these oppressive clothing. Muslim women, on the other contrary, feel very invaded by these laws. They wear the veils because they are apart of something bigger, and it is part of their identity within that group. They also see the head scarves and veils as a sign of strength and empowerment that sets them apart from the scantily clad women of society. Modesty is an important part of the Muslim traditions, and many women feel that this law is an invasion of their religious rights.