Chiraq bans Muslim head scarves in State Schools

Up to 120 Girls Defy French Head Scarf Ban
Up to 120 Girls Defy French Law Banning Islamic Head Scarves in Classrooms, Minister Says

The Associated Press

PARIS Sept. 8, 2004

REUTERS
Oct. 7, 2004

TOULON, France - The French law meant to banish Muslim headscarves from state schools is finding unexpected targets in southern France, where some principals have begun turning away Roman Catholic chaplains.

Five priests have been barred from state schools in the Var region despite the fact that French law has long allowed them entry to meet Catholic pupils there, according to the local diocesan spokesman Father Charles Mallard.

One school in this Mediterranean port city barred a priest this week because he was wearing a cassock, the traditional black robe he wore last year without problem before the new law barring conspicuous religious symbols came into force. [..]

French lawmakers this year banned "conspicuous religious symbols" and indicated this meant the headscarf, the Jewish skullcap and large Christian crosses.

This has created problems for Sikh pupils, who now cannot wear their turbans although they are not a religious symbol, and now raised questions about the loophole in France's strict secularism that allows chaplains to work at state schools.

The teachers' union, SNES, supported the schools' stand, saying in a statement, "The law on secularism applies not only to pupils, but to teachers and other personnel who are part of the teaching or logistical staff of a school." [..]

"How can you explain to pupils that the law is the same for everyone if we make an exception like that?" asked Jean-Pierre Andrau, a history teacher at the lycee where Father Antoine Galland was turned away.

France's ban on veils judged a success

Paris, France, Jun. 2 (UPI) -- French officials say the controversial law banning Muslim headscarves and other religious symbols in public schools is yielding results.

A year after the ban on religious symbols went into effect, education officials say the legislation has improved the integration of students into French public schools.

Passed last spring, the legislation bans students from wearing Islamic headscarves, Catholic crosses, Jewish skullcaps or other religious symbols to public schools.

Only 47 students have been expelled from school since the academic year started last fall, according to the Ministry of Education. Most were Muslim girls who refused to take off their veils.

A number of conservative Muslim leaders, along with those from other faiths -- including Sikhs -- strongly criticized the legislation.

Of course in an ideal world yes let them wear what they want. But does that include T shirts with political slogans or offensive remarks?

[hardly daring to express opinion differing from H Hinteler ... ]

Steve (as 41oo wrote:

Of course in an ideal world yes let them wear what they want. But does that include T shirts with political slogans or offensive remarks?

Why not? Where I went to school, pupils had a lot of political slogans, "FU"s, and similar stuff on their T-shirts. I don't remember any trouble in school coming from this.

but what do you do with the boy who wants to wear neo nazi uniform?

Or the girl who demands the schools is modified to allow her to wear the shadoor or burkha?

What I meant was that if a girl wore "extreme" Islamic dress, and this was accepted by the school, then she could demand that the physical structure of the school buildings, stairways, changing rooms, gymnasium facilities etc should be altered to enable her to wear her religious clothing safely.

de Volkskrant [my translation]
8 September 2005

Court: state subsidy to discriminating SGP unlawful

THE HAGUE - The state has to suspend its subsidy to the State Reformed Party (SGP). This was determined by the court in The Hague on Wednesday, because the SGP discriminates women. Minister Remkes (Interior Affairs) is considering to appeal.

Women in the SGP can only become 'extraordinary member'. That means that they can not take on any administrative function, and are not allowed to interfere in party affairs. The SGP bases its point of view on phrases from the bible.

According to the Hague court subsidying the SGP is therefore a breach of the Womens Treaty [or Convention] of the United Nations. In that treaty it says that the state 'should take appropriate measures to banish the discrimination of women in political and public spheres'. The state neglects to do so with the SGP, according to the judge. In fact, womens discrimination is subsidised. [..]

The SGP receives 800 thousand Euro in state subsidies on an annual basis, plus another 300 thousand for the wages of the two members of parliament and their administrative support. The SGP's annual budget is 1,4million Euro.

Who are the SGP, Nimh? Are they a Muslim party?