girlgeek
12-17-2003, 09:44 PM
Chirac: Ban headscarves in schools
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French President Jacques Chirac has called for a law banning religious symbols and clothing in state schools and hospitals.
Chirac's remarks Wednesday came in response to a commission report favoring the banning of Muslim head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses in public schools.
He said he would sponsor legislation to make the ban law by next autumn.
In an address to the nation, Chirac said: "I feel that wearing any kind of symbol that ostensibly shows faith, I feel that that is something that should not be allowed in schools and colleges.
"If we are talking about a star of David, the hand of Fatima or a small cross, those are acceptable, but when it's very obvious, in other words, when if they are worn people can immediately see what religious faith they belong to, that should not be accepted."
Later in his remarks, Chirac said the ban should also apply to hospitals.
And he added: "Nothing can justify that a patient refuses, on principle, to be cared for by a doctor of the opposite sex. The law must consecrate this rule for all the ill who go to a public hospital."
Chirac said the wearing of religious symbols threatened the cohesion of the French people and France's separation of church and state.
Read the rest at http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/17...rves/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/17/france.headscarves/index.html).
PARIS, France (CNN) -- French President Jacques Chirac has called for a law banning religious symbols and clothing in state schools and hospitals.
Chirac's remarks Wednesday came in response to a commission report favoring the banning of Muslim head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses in public schools.
He said he would sponsor legislation to make the ban law by next autumn.
In an address to the nation, Chirac said: "I feel that wearing any kind of symbol that ostensibly shows faith, I feel that that is something that should not be allowed in schools and colleges.
"If we are talking about a star of David, the hand of Fatima or a small cross, those are acceptable, but when it's very obvious, in other words, when if they are worn people can immediately see what religious faith they belong to, that should not be accepted."
Later in his remarks, Chirac said the ban should also apply to hospitals.
And he added: "Nothing can justify that a patient refuses, on principle, to be cared for by a doctor of the opposite sex. The law must consecrate this rule for all the ill who go to a public hospital."
Chirac said the wearing of religious symbols threatened the cohesion of the French people and France's separation of church and state.
Read the rest at http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/17...rves/index.html (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/17/france.headscarves/index.html).