Iraqi Shiite clerics urge boycott of French products over headscarf ban

AFP ^ | 12/26/03

[saquin]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Shiite clerics called for a boycott of French products in protest at France's move to ban Islamic headscarves and other religious insignia from schools.

"I suggest that a fatwa (religious edict) be issued by (Shiite religious scholars in the Iraqi holy city of) Najaf, (the Iranian Shiite religious center of) Qom and al-Azhar (the Sunni Muslims' highest religious authority) ordering a boycott of French products," firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said.

"If we cannot reach such a decision, we should at least threaten to do it," he told worshippers during his weekly sermon in Kufa near Najaf.

Silence would encourage other countries, such as Germany, to follow in France's footsteps, Sadr warned.

A similar call was made by a Shiite cleric in Baghdad.

"We condemn the French government's decision prohibiting the Islamic veil and we demand the liberty that France says it embodies," Sayyed Amer al-Husseini told some 10,000 worshippers in the Shiite-populated Sadr City district.

"We encourage a boycott of French products and call on Muslims in France to continue wearing the veil," he said in a sermon at the main weekly Muslim prayers.

In the Sunni northern city of Mosul, hundreds of women marched Friday evening to protest at the French move, an AFP correspondent reported.

"Mosul's women denounce the French decision to ban the veil," "This decision violates freedom," read some of the banners raised by the protesters, who rallied at the behest of Islamist groups.

After months of heated debate, a committee of French experts last week recommended banning from state schools "conspicuous" religious insignia -- including the hijab (Islamic headscarf), the Jewish kippa or skullcap and large crucifixes.

French President Jacques Chirac has come out in favor of the ban, which he wants written into law by the start of the next academic year.

[goldstategop]

Gotta love 'em. They know France never lifted a finger for them under Saddam and all the French can do is obsess over head scarves? What about those hundreds of thousands buried in unmarked graves all over Iraq? The Frogs have their priorities seriously out of whack and I for one welcome the Shi'ite clerics on board. Besides, the French are never around when you need em.

[ChefKeith]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

Hey jacka$$ $h!track, even the ragheads think you suck.

[Tired_of_the_Lies]

The French are just making friends and influencing people all over the place.

[EggsAckley]

Poetic justice.

[No Truce With Kings]

That's pretty funny. Though I have to wonder whether Iraq's Shi'a are using France's new policy as an excuse to do something that they would dearly like to do anyway because France was such a close bud of Saddam. The Shi'a were the ones who took it on the chin.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Is there anyone Chirac can't manage to make angry?

[fuzzycat]

Well, this is what happens when you let all these Muslims in your country, Actually, it's about all I could ever agree with M. Chrirac on. Let them go to their own private religious schools if they must advertise their religion-all religions.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I'm going to disagree with Chirac, even on this one. For the much the same reason I disagree with all the hypersensitive ninnies who get bent out of shape about mentioning Christmas in schools. It doesn't hurt anyone; it doesn't lead to hurting anyone.

I know that any woman wearing more than a bikini in France is a prude, but leave the schoolgirls alone.

For that matter, they're also going after Jewish boys who wear kippahs and any Christian child wearing a "large" crucifix.

[busybody]

Lets overlook all the sophomoric and ill-considered responses to the culture war unfolding in France and see this issue for what it really is: a Muslim minority group demanding concessions from the French government in order to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

Just as the Boston Tea Party was not about tea, this issue is not just about head coverings. The Muslim immigrants from north Africa do not want to assimilate into French (i.e. Western) society.

When French President Chirac threw down the gauntlet and insisted that the head coverings not be worn in schools, he was taking a stand for assimilation. He was looking at this issue in terms of separation of church and state, saying, in effect, "keep your Muslim religious symbols out of the state supported schools."

Don't get me wrong ... I am in no way suggesting that the French government has been on the right side of history as far as the war in Iraq. What I am saying is this: look at the head covering issue from a larger perspective. See it in terms of another skirmish in the larger culture war taking place in Europe.

Better still, see the events unfolding in France as a precursor of things to come in North America.

[BenLurkin]

Do they sell a lot of Perrier in Iraq?

[desertcry]

The french are very good at dispensing hot air, they have an abundance of it. Thus, if you ask the french to do something substantial, you will get malodorous air and plenty of it.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Thing is, this isn't just aimed at Muslim head scarves. It's also aimed at yarmulkes and "large" crucifixes as well. It's aimed at significant expressions of various religious identities.

In any case, the U.S. has managed to assimilate groups and simultaneously have them maintain their cultural identity. In matters of dress, we have orthodox Jews who wear yarmulkes; indeed, we have the various Hasidic sects. We have Amish and their distinctive clothing. They may be out of the mainstream, but I don't think anyone could say they are un-American.

And the thing is, these girls are actually practicing modesty -- a virtue -- and the French government is going after it.

[fuzzycat]

You are exactly right-except that you should say "it shouldn't hurt or bother anyone." The display of different religious symbols don't really bother me, even tho I am not religious. This is the definition of diversity and tolerance. I don't like Muslims or any other fanatics for that matter. But apparently these differences in beliefs and symbols do bother some -to the point of killing others because of the differences. Taxpayers support the gov't schools, taxpayers of all different stripes and until humans learn to tolerate each other I suggest that M. Chirac's decision ,especially in the Muslim infested French society is correct. Otherwise I have no use for him or any of the rest of the French.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Do you agree that Chirac is also right to ban yarmulkes, crucifixes, and other religious paraphernalia, as well?

In any case, I don't see how this is going to weaken the Muslim political strength in France. If anything, it will anger and make the religious Muslim population more active. It does not create an argument against the more radical and destructive arguments that some Muslims are making. It does nothing to impede terrorism. It doesn't target active fanatics.

It is an empty gesture. Chirac does not stand up to any political or terrorist threat. He bullies schoolgirls.

[McGavin999]

If the Muslim women were wearing the hajab voluntarily I would agree with you. The problem is, many of them are being forced to wear it and are being threatened with death if they do not. It's a pretty complex situation.

I understand that in some Muslim neighborhoods, women who don't wear the hajab are being gang raped.

[fuzzycat]

Yes, my fellow libertarian, or thru some magic teach them all to get along, cease hating each other and stop the killing. As I said, I have no use for Muslims (especially the fanatic ones) but as long as they do no harm to me or my property, I can tolerate them. Historically this has not proven to be the case. I might even be able to tolerate the idiot fundamentalist in Montgomery screaming "Get your hands off our God !" as long as he stays out of my yard and face.All religious adherents consider themselves to be the only possessors of the truth and what is truth to one is blasphemy to the other. It has been, is, and always will be. It is the nature of superstition. I think I see the philosophy of Jesus much more like the Gnostics and there will be those who chastise me for my views, but when you get down to the nut, no one really knows. So, yes, let academia be for academics and churches for worship. We will all be better off in the long run.