Explain Why The Burqa Should Not Be Banned In France

In April, 2011 the French parliament banned the burqa, prohibiting women living in France to wear the dress in any public areas. My client, S.A.S., has been wrongly victimized by the constitutionality of this law. This outlaw, of the religious dress of the women’s choosing, has caused much controversy. The French Parliament claims that the burqa “isolates” muslim women from French society and “strips them of their humanity,”. However, not allowing these women to express themselves through wearing the burqa further secludes Muslim women living in France. The burqa should not be banned in France, it is not equitable and limits women’s rights in a country that is presumed to be free and impartial for all citizens, as stated in the French Constitution.

This ban of a women’s religious dress is in no way constitutional under the current French Constitution. My client and the 1,546 fines have been given out to 908 women wearing the burqa in public (McPartland), have not been given equality without the distinction of religion. The French Parliament stated that this was for Muslim women to, “adapt to the local community,”. These 908 women being fined and being spotlighted by the community do not feel welcomed in their local community, because their religion and traditional religious dress has been attacked. This ban is helping nobody and compromises the integrity of France, as stated by Geoffrey W.G. Leane, “In all likelihood these policies will end badly, not only for Muslim minorities in Europe, but for the legitimacy and integrity of modern European liberal values as well.” Even if this was France trying to convince the public that they were keeping them safe somehow, it goes against the most sacred law of the land, the