France has certainly been pro-active in dealing with this one over the years. The French government has banned head scarves or the hijab and other religious clothing from primary and secondary schools in 2004. More recently, Muslim women wearing burqinis have been barred from public swimming pools on health grounds. And now, Société Générale refused to let a 24-year-old female Muslim customer enter the bank, unless she removed her headscarf. This was for security reasons.
The following video goes into the details.
5 comments:
that's pretty sick. I could understand if it was the burqa she was wearing then probably "security reasons" would "apply" better.
EK...
Yes, a little sad. A burqa or a full face veil, I could understand. But, if it is true that the reason was that they could not see enough of her face or head, then it was a little extreme.
this kind of reason could light more fire between the moeslem and western states. i think this case have to go to the ECHR.
Anggara...
Probably, and it seems that the protest afterwards attracted some heated exchanges.
If it was to go to the ECHR what would the arguments be for and against the decision of the bank to prohibit entry?
If the bank adopts a policy that all head wear must be removed as a condition of entry, then would this be discrimination? Let's assume that Sikhs would have to remove their turbans and Jews their kippahs and so on for all other religions.
I guess the complaints will carry a lot more weight the day women can attend a soccer match in Saudi Arabia or for that matter wear a bikini to the beach. I think you need to take Frances absolute commitment to secular government into account. Its not like its a secret before you get there.
Funny how the compromises all seem to have to be one way.
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