This is a hot subject here in France, and the reason for all this hooha is that the French secular system doesn’t allow any leeway. It’s all or nothing, which means it’s bad.

I personally see no problem with women wearing burquas. I don’t agree with the male domination of women it implies (or at least that’s how it’s presented here) but I don’t think banning burquas will change that unfortunately. It would just brush the issue under the carpet. The French have this wrong.

And that is also the reason that I get outraged when I see Muslim women here having to carry all the shopping and being obliged to walk in front of their husbands. Here that’s considered as humiliating and it shouldn’t be tolerated. But it is. The French have this wrong too.

As I respect other cultures, France is my culture, and I think people coming to live here should respect our lifestyle. After all, I wouldn’t dream of going to a Muslim country and entering a mosque without taking off my shoes, and if western women have to cover their heads and legs when they enter one, so be it. If people don’t like the cultural and moral imperatives in other countries, they shouldn’t go there. Quite simply...

Euhh sorry, I meant to write ”if people don’t RESPECT the cultural and moral imperatives....... We are, of course, free to like and agree with them or not.