Unbelievably (or perhaps completely believable), the French Senate has passed yet another bill that is quite clearly aimed at its Muslim citizens. Le Figaro, one of the most prominent newspapers of the country, writes, "The majority [of the Senate] thus voted in favor of the prohibition in the public space of any religious sign by minors and of any dress or clothing which would signify an inferiority of women. The parliamentarians also voted in favor of banning the burkini in swimming pools and public bathing areas."
The bill has now been sent to the National Assembly, where it will be voted on soon. If this bill passes through the National Assembly, this would imply a complete and total ban on hijabs to all of our sisters under the age of 18, along with a complete ban on modest swimwear.
In other words, it would be a criminal offense to cover your hair anywhere outside your house for religious reasons, but would be totally acceptable if you did it as a fashion statement.
Amnesty International released a report in which it pointed out various laws being passed recently in France which clearly seem to target Muslims, and wrote regarding another bill that passed "This proposed law is wide open to abuse, and a threat to the very freedoms the French authorities claim to stand for."
As France continues its nefarious slide down the road to religious bigotry and fascism, it becomes even more obligatory for Muslims, and indeed all those who care about religious rights and understand where these types of tactics will eventually lead, to speak out and stop such blatant criminalization of what essentially amounts to personal modesty.
I also ask the Muslim leaders of France to tell us what we can do to help them. Allah help you all!
Note: to be clear, the bill has NOT yet been passed - it has been approved by the Senate, and must now pass the National Assembly. The picture is from a recent rally against the niqab ban and reads, "Is this a law against the veil, or against Islam?"
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