French Minister Disregards Right to Religious Expression
April 01, 2016
By Annie Glasser
On Wednesday French Minister for Family, Children, and Women’s Rights Laurence Rossignol compared Muslim women who wear traditional head coverings to “American negroes who supported slavery.” Under pressure from media and civil society, Rossignol apologized for her language, but she stands by her message.
Rossignol made the remark in response to a question about the Islamic fashion industry during an interview on BFMTV. Rossignol said retailers—including Dolce & Gabbana, Uniqlo, and H&M—that offer clothing specifically for Muslim women “promote the confinement of women’s bodies.”
This sentiment is not new in France. The 2004 law on secularism and conspicuous religious symbols in schools and the 2011 law prohibiting concealing one’s face in public spaces fueled an ongoing debate about “French identity” in a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and pluralist society. These laws, along with Rossignol’s recent statement, go against internationally recognized rights of freedom of religion and expression. They also contribute to the view that the principle of laïcité (secularism) limits the acceptance of differences and promotes unattainable conformity.
Rossignol’s words on the traditional Muslim head covering bolster the “clash of civilizations” narrative that is pervasive in France. In our recent report, "Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Countering Antisemitism and Extremism in France," Human Rights First found that marginalization of already-vulnerable groups perpetuates an overall increase in repression, polarization, and intolerance. Excluding these groups from a sense of belonging and inclusion in the national identity can hinder efforts to address racism, antisemitism, and other forms of intolerance.
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/blog/french-minister-disregards-right-religious-expression
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