The French government and the head dress of Muslim girls

Religion has always found its root in the family. Children are born into a family, into the religion of the family. Whether they are Muslims, Jewish, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhist, Hindus or any other religious groups, children start practicing religion what is taught to them by their parents and family.

In the United States there are people who are called Amish and Mennonites. They believe in Christianity. But their culture leads the girls and women to wear head cover. The wearing of the head cover is not written in the Bible nor ordained by Jesus Christ. Orthodox Jewish boys wear hats and keep long sideburns; the Sikh boys cover their long hair under a turban. Muslim girls wear head covers. It is often what they were asked to follow by their parents and elders. The children believe and practice them in good faith.

If the girls have to take off the head covering at the school, but wear them anywhere outside, how does it help the law and the Government of France? If the girls or the women decide not to wear their head covering, it is their personal choice. My personal belief is, when the women get economic freedom along with political freedom, there will be far reaching changes in their culture. Instead of provoking unnecessary debate and wasting energy in issues such as head covers, the government should concentrate on offering opportunities to the women, make them economically independent and let time take it own course.

France is not Saudi Arabia, it is not a theocratic state nor it is ruled by a despotic King. Freedom and secularism are the pillars of French democracy. The practice of individual faith and personal liberty are the key words ingrained in the constitution of the Republic of France. So why would the Government of France target Muslim girls' head dress as a major issue in preventing fundamentalism in France? I believe it is absolutely wrong to take away anyone's personal freedom and practice of faith by any government. If we allow the government to take away the freedom to practice people's faith and expression, this might be just the beginning of more to follow.

However, if it is found that the school children were forced to wear their head covers by their parents or by their religious priest against their will, the Government of France has every right to intervene and protect the freedom of the Muslim children.

The head cover may be symbolic for the Muslim girls or women. It could be an identity issue. It could be a means to protect them in a multiracial and multicultural society. Depending on their family background, they may even feel comfortable in their attires.

I am going to tell a story of a woman whom I love and admire. How she had shaped and guided her family and instilled in them unprejudiced mind, and yet she hardly finished her high school. This Muslim woman is my mother. In the early nineteen fifties in Bangladesh when it was not so popular to shake the "Burkha", a covering from head to toe, she was one of the very few pioneering brave women to come out of it. It was still simply unthinkable for a woman at that time to be a member of a Rifle Club. Yet, she not only became a member but competed with men and women, and won shooting championships. Even at this very moment there are very few women in Bangladesh or many third world countries where women could think of participating in such activities. She was involved with social organisations to help the needy and bring relief to people stricken with disaster. She taught us to think and be independent. My sisters and my brothers were allowed to pursue their dreams and education as far as they could venture. My sisters wore their school dresses, not "Burkha" or "Hizab".

In the seventies, my parents went to perform their Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca. When she returned from Mecca, she put on a white coverall over her dress and a head dress to match with it when she would travel or go out in the public. No body forced her to wear it. She must have thought that her dress must be appropriate for someone who had performed Hajj. Over the years she became not so strict with her own dress code and she would go out like she used to before, but there was always modesty in her, a practice of common Muslim women.

My point in telling this story is simple. Let women make their own choice. If we impose unjust rules, there will be always backlash against it. We would play in the hands of fundamentalists who would not miss this opportunity to point out that their faith and religion is in danger vis-a-vis other religions.

I want to point out one more thing and that is a story I read in the Christian Science Monitor that school girls were killed in fire in Saudi Arabia in March of 2002 because they were forced to go back to their class rooms to bring back their covering dresses. This is a most unfortunate incident I can think of that has taken place in the birth place of Islam. The Prophet had brought the Arabs out of the days of ignorance and offered them enlightenment and message of peace. Alas some of them have thrown away the essence of his preaching and hold on to the decayed rituals! In the days before Islam, if the Arabs had daughters born to their families, they would bury them alive, as they considered it shame to have been blessed with girls. It is unfortunate that after fourteen hundred years since our Prophet has given us a religion of peace, the Arabs are still not seem as much caring for girl child.

This is precisely what I want to say that do not mix apples and oranges. France is not a theocratic state. Freedom, equality and secularism are the principles of French democracy. Here no one will force anyone to wear what one does not want to wear nor one should not be forced to give up his/her preferences to wear choiced attires. The law should protect to express the freedom of culture. The Declaration of the Rights of Man, proclaimed by French people says --Men are born and will remain free and endowed with equal rights...Liberty consists in being able to do anything which is not harmful to another....... Free communication of thought and opinion is one of the most precious Rights of Man...

Further, a point of reference. The Declaration of Independence of America states that every individual has "certain inalienable Rights ... to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."