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France parliamentary commission recommends partial burqa ban

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The French parliamentary commission charged with investigating whether to enact laws banning the wearing of burqas or other "full veils" released its report Tuesday calling for a partial ban. The panel urged a ban that would apply in public facilities, including hospitals, schools, and public transportation, and to any individual attempting to receive public services. The panel also recommended that permanent residency and citizenship be denied to anyone displaying their adherence to "radical religious practices." The commission did not recommend a total ban on the burqa because not all members agreed that such a move would be constitutional. The potential ban has received widespread support throughout France. Any legislation will probably not be voted on until after the French regional elections in March. The commission began its hearings in July after being established a month earlier to address the issue. The panel has heard testimony from numerous experts, including anthropologist Dounia Bouzar, who suggested that a broad ban on covering one's face to conceal identity is preferable to a law that singles out Muslims. Bouzar said that the recent popularity of the burqa amongst French Muslims was due to religious "gurus" who have misconstrued the teachings of Islam. The commission also heard from University of Nice philosopher Abdennour Bidar, who urged the commission to find a way to prevent the spread of the practice, though he was unsure whether this goal is best accomplished through legislation.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 26, 2010 (boomark / email).