Headscarf ban plan unravels in France (Sikh turbans may be allowed)

The French Government's plans to ban religious attire in state schools appears to be unravelling, following comments by French Education Minister Luc Ferry.

Mr Ferry suggested that beards and bandanas should also be outlawed in the classroom, if they are being worn on religious grounds.

His comments came after a Muslim organisation said a discrete bandana might be an acceptable alternative to the Islamic headscarf.

French teachers are aghast at the Minister's suggestions, which they say risk re-opening the debate and creating a whole new problem.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1029483.htm

and from BBC

But he said Sikhs might be able to wear head coverings if they were discreet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3416091.stm

Given that Muslims are actively suggesting compromises, I think the government will go for just the veil/beard restriction (despite what a particular bureaucrat might think).

From what I remember learning that Sikhs are not allowed to cut their hair, and most prefer the turban to keep it tidy, but the turban itself is not a requirement of the faith. (If I'm wrong I appologize)

The one where all the DU supporters were saying this was a good idea despite numerous examples of the stupidity, partiality and unenforceablility of this policy.

I said they would never dare go for beards, and if they did, there would be a mass-tune changing throughout the land.

Now I will just get some cookies, sit back, and wait for that Great Debate :)

Not all Muslims are giddy to accept the new restrictions:
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-01/21/article08.shtml

French Muslims Want ‘Small Hijab’ Excluded From Ban

PARIS, January 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - While the French Muslim Council was endeavoring to secure the exclusion of "small hijab" from the mooted law banning "conspicuous religious signals" in state schools, the French education minister argued the measure could rather go as far as banning beards.
...
Elaborating on what is meant by "small hijab," he said allowing Muslim girls to wear coats, trousers and head covers.

Ibriz said that the proposed wears should be excluded from the ban just like small crosses and the David’s Star.

And this story... I thought I was told French Muslims were dancing with joy in the streets at the prospect of having their Beards and Hijabs forcefully removed ...
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2002-12/10/article47.shtml

At Last, French Muslims to Get Single Representative Body

PARIS, December 10 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - France's five million Muslims are for the first time to be organized within a single representative body authorized to press their interests before the government, under an agreement signed Monday, December 9, by the country's three main Muslim groups.

The deal was revealed in a television interview Monday evening by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who said it would give "our compatriots of the Muslim confession the right to live out their faith just like Catholics, like Jews and like Protestants," reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).


Not only does it sound as if they may be a bit adverse to the Idea, it looks as if our French Sisters and Brothers may be organizing

Exposure to a progressive, secular culture is the best way to "assimilate" religious fundamentalists. Most of those Muslim kids will lose the scarves and become deaf to the muzzein by the time they are 18.

Most fundamentalisms are religious modernisms dressed up in bearskin. It's the last gasp of a religion facing decay. This is as true for the Muslims as it is for the Christians.

--bkl