France Bans Religious Symbols Rather Than Addressing Anti-Semitism

Posted By Blackfive

France's lower house just passed a bill banning religious symbols in public schools. AP and Reuters are both reporting on this issue. Check out the difference between the stories. Here is AP's entire article:

French Ban on Religious Items Passes Test By ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press Writer

PARIS - France's lower house of parliament on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in public schools.

The measure, which would outlaw conspicuous religious clothing and symbols in schools, was approved 494-36. It now goes to the Senate, where little opposition was expected, in early March.

Implementation of the law was expected next September.

The bill stipulates that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden." It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries.

Sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious signs and clothing would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.

While containing the same information as the AP article, Reuters has a slightly different spin on this issue and makes me think that French lawmakers are taking the easy way out. Read on:

French Lawmakers Overwhelmingly Back Veil Ban

...The key passage of the law, which schools would apply from September, reads: "In primary and secondary state schools, wearing signs and clothes that conspicuously display the pupil's religious affiliation is forbidden."

The issue goes to the heart of France's self-image as a secular state that keeps faith out of state schools and services to ensure no religion dominates or suffers discrimination.

The ban has wide public support but leaders of France's five million Muslims call it discriminatory. It has provoked criticism from Islamic and Christian leaders abroad, including Pope John Paul (news - web sites).

Before the vote, Education Minister Luc Ferry said France had witnessed a "spectacular rise in racism and anti-Semitism in the last three years" and the ban would help to keep classes from dividing up into "militant religious communities."

The ban would also make clear pupils must follow the full official curriculum and cannot object to or skip classes for religious reasons, he said.

Teachers have complained in recent years of problems with Muslim pupils who interrupt history classes to deny the Nazis slaughtered Jews; boycott classes on human reproduction, saying they are immodest; or refuse to attend physical education.

They have also reported that Muslim pupils sometimes repeat anti-Semitic themes they see on Arabic satellite television. Jewish families are increasingly switching their children from state schools to private Jewish schools to avoid harassment.

So, the problem, according to Reuters, is rampant anti-semitism and not concern over the secularism of public schools in France. This is just one more nail in one of the most amoral, cowardly and doomed governments in the world.

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France Bans Religious Symbols Rather Than Addressing Anti-Semitism

France's lower house just passed a bill banning religious symbols in public schools. AP and Reuters are both reporting on this issue. Check out the difference between the stories. Here is AP's entire article:

French Ban on Religious Items Passes Test By ELAINE GANLEY, Associated Press Writer

PARIS - France's lower house of parliament on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to ban students from wearing Islamic head scarves and other religious apparel in public schools.

The measure, which would outlaw conspicuous religious clothing and symbols in schools, was approved 494-36. It now goes to the Senate, where little opposition was expected, in early March.

Implementation of the law was expected next September.

The bill stipulates that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of students are forbidden." It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries.

Sanctions for refusing to remove conspicuous religious signs and clothing would range from a warning to temporary suspension from school to expulsion.

While containing the same information as the AP article, Reuters has a slightly different spin on this issue and makes me think that French lawmakers are taking the easy way out. Read on:

French Lawmakers Overwhelmingly Back Veil Ban

...The key passage of the law, which schools would apply from September, reads: "In primary and secondary state schools, wearing signs and clothes that conspicuously display the pupil's religious affiliation is forbidden."

The issue goes to the heart of France's self-image as a secular state that keeps faith out of state schools and services to ensure no religion dominates or suffers discrimination.

The ban has wide public support but leaders of France's five million Muslims call it discriminatory. It has provoked criticism from Islamic and Christian leaders abroad, including Pope John Paul (news - web sites).

Before the vote, Education Minister Luc Ferry said France had witnessed a "spectacular rise in racism and anti-Semitism in the last three years" and the ban would help to keep classes from dividing up into "militant religious communities."

The ban would also make clear pupils must follow the full official curriculum and cannot object to or skip classes for religious reasons, he said.

Teachers have complained in recent years of problems with Muslim pupils who interrupt history classes to deny the Nazis slaughtered Jews; boycott classes on human reproduction, saying they are immodest; or refuse to attend physical education.

They have also reported that Muslim pupils sometimes repeat anti-Semitic themes they see on Arabic satellite television. Jewish families are increasingly switching their children from state schools to private Jewish schools to avoid harassment.

So, the problem, according to Reuters, is rampant anti-semitism and not concern over the secularism of public schools in France. This is just one more nail in one of the most amoral, cowardly and doomed governments in the world.

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