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France Divided, Young Muslims Angry
Well, this is going like I expected. EFL:
After Friday prayers at a Paris mosque, a simple question about the possibility of France outlawing Islamic head scarves in schools provoked a heated protest. "I urge all our brothers not to take their kids to school!" cried Mohammed, a Muslim of North African origin. The crowd, drawn by his appeals, murmured its approval.
| "Yeah! Let's all seethe, dammit!" |
The danger of Franceâs new effort to protect its secular traditions, these angry young men said, is that it will drive Muslims even further away from the rest of the country.
| Prob'ly not as far as Algeria, though... |
Any law against head scarves would alienate young Muslims like those who spoke with such passion outside the ramshackle mosque in a poor, multiracial section of Parisâ 18th district.
Women "are emeralds, jewels - the more they are shielded, the more beautiful they become. They lose their luster if they are outdoors," said Riadh Chabaoui, in his 20s.
| "Yeah. Dat's why we keep 'em in the closet. And y'gotta polish 'em with a mild abrasive every now and then, just to keep 'em looking good, not that anybody'd notice..." |
"In religious life, women must wear veils." Mohammed, who wouldnât give his full name, said legislating against head scarves would backfire. He said he tells his wife that sheâs beautiful in her scarf because it is "the flag of all Muslims."
| "I mean, sure, honey! You got that big North African honker, and a moustache that's nearly as pronounced as mine, but once you put on that scarf, you're the bee's knees! Gets me all fired up!" |
"If you make me choose between breaking the law and breaking the Quran, Iâll break the law," he said, referring to the Muslim holy book. "Today, they forbid us from wearing veils. Tomorrow, theyâll forbid us from being Muslims."
Yup, this is working well.
| How about if they don't forbid you from being Muslims but require you do it someplace else? |
Posted by: Steve 2003-12-12 |
