FRANCE: President Jacques Chirac yesterday said he will seek a law banning the wearing of Islamic headscarves in French schools and lycées. He framed the announcement in a paean to the French Republic's tradition of secularism and the promotion of equal rights for women.
Though the law will also forbid Jewish skullcaps and large crosses, it clearly targets young Muslim women whose covered hair has dominated French political debate this winter. Mr Chirac said he hopes to see the law in force before the next school year begins in the autumn of 2004.
"Sectarianism cannot be the choice of France," Mr Chirac told an audience of 400 religious leaders, parliamentarians and students in a 40-minute speech at the Elysée Palace. Among the guests were many of the actors and writers who signed a petition in Elle magazine imploring Mr Chirac to ban the headscarf, which they describe as an "intolerable discrimination".
Sectarianism, Mr Chirac continued, "is contrary to our history, traditions, culture, . . . humanist traditions, our faith in social ascension through the sole force of talent or merit . . . That is why we have an urgent obligation to act."
The French President based his conclusions on the Stasi Commission report, which was completed last week.
"In conscience, I believe that the wearing of clothing or symbols that conspicuously indicate religious belonging must be banned in schools, colleges and public lycées," he said.
"Discreet" signs - including Christian crosses, Jewish Stars of David or Muslim "hands of Fatima" - will be allowed. "On the other hand, conspicuous signs... which are worn to be noticed and recognised instantly for one's religious affiliation, will not be permitted," Mr Chirac said.
"Those - the Islamic veil, whatever name it is given, the Kippa or a cross of obviously excessive size - have no place within the walls of public schools. The public school shall remain secular."
In hospitals, Mr Chirac said, "nothing can justify a patient refusing on principle to be cared for by a doctor of the opposite sex. The law must enshrine this rule for all patients who address themselves to the public service." Some French doctors complain that Muslim women, often at their husbands' behests, refuse to be examined by male physicians.
The measure could be extended to the private sector. Mr Chirac said he may ask the minister of labour to submit proposals to allow bosses to control the wearing of religious symbols for reasons "related to security or contact with clientele".
Mr Chirac rejected the Stasi report's recommendation that the Jewish Yom Kippur and the Muslim Aid al-Kebir be made school holidays. There were many holidays in the school calendar already, he noted. Jewish and Muslim students would be excused on their religious days - already the custom - providing they notify teachers in advance.
Mr Chirac was originally reluctant to legislate against the headscarf. The step is resented in the Muslim community, where he is popular. It has been opposed by Christian and Muslim religious leaders.
On Tuesday, three teachers' unions appealed to Mr Chirac to avoid "the stigmatisation of a part of the population". But the President was swayed by the weight of public opinion. A poll published by Le Parisien yesterday showed that 69 per cent of French people would like a law against headscarves at school.
The centre-right UDF deputy, Mr Hervée Morin, struck a dissonant chord. "The reality is that France today is incapable of integrating [its Muslim minority]," he said.