Student

The French Ban

In March 2003 the French government enforced the law that no religious items could be worn in any public places such as schools and offices. The ban came into force because the French government wanted t separate religion from its state and everyday life. The French government thought said that religion is a personal matter. The law was also passed because France thought it would help people to get along much better rather than worry about race and religion, it would also enlighten multiculturalism.

By banning religious symbols, France's population will be able to live together, celebrating their diversity, while protecting their secular tradition; meaning people can integrate without being wrapped in their French religion. The French government has said how wearing religious symbols fuels hatred and division in people; if people didn't know what religion you were then they wouldn't act differently to you thus imposing equality.

Many people were upset by this law. The Muslim community in France said that the government was specifically targeting them. In Islam it is compulsory for women to cover her head, so to the Muslims it was like the government wanted to stop them from their conventional way of life and trying to compel the young generation of Muslims to follow a very western tradition. It was not only Muslims but Christian and Jews who said the law did not uphold secularism but pure injustice.

Many people had different views on the ban; protests were held out all across Paris's main streets. All people of different faiths, races and nationalities came together ordering the government to abandon the law. It was not only the general public challenging the law but politicians from other parties all across Europe debating on the issue of how to bring about equality without the banning of conspicuous religious symbols.

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