Whether or not humanity likes to admit it, imperialistic ideals that we thought to have left in the 20th century still rule society. Western countries that terrorised great numbers of developing countries - in particular, America, have continued to prosper in ignorance and racism, using their continuously growing power to impose their conservative ideals.
On March 30th 2021, the French senate voted on what is known as the ‘separatism bill’, which if passed, will mean that Muslim girls will not be allowed to consent to wear the hijab until they are 18. Unfortunately, this is not the first we have seen of France’s Islamophobic agenda. The bill reeks of France’s long-lasting history in everything anti-Islam.
France’s history is deep-rooted in Roman Catholicism, consolidated by hundreds of years of wars between Islam and Catholics. Their 2000 year old relationship with the Roman Empire explains the historical aspect of France’s modern day ideals. Historically, France’s monarchs and politicians have been rooted in Catholic ideals, with many of their wars during the dark ages fulfilling such an agenda against the Muslim population.
France has had a lengthy and complicated relationship with the church. Starting with Louis XIV’s (1643 - 1714) reign, we see the beginning of France’s attempts to separate church from state. This was soon followed by a period well known as the 16th century’s ‘Wars of Religion’ where the people began to rebel against their Catholic nature, and the population of agnostic and atheist individuals increased drastically. France, undoubtedly has a strong international presence, particularly in the 19th and 20th century where it was a major force of imperialism and triumphed over a large number of regions around the world, including many Muslim-dominated lands in Africa and the Middle East. During this period, the French monarch and government made several attempts to separate Islamic symbols and practices from the people of these countries, banning the veil (otherwise technically referred to as the burqa) and the Arabic language from being displayed in the public.
In 1905, France underwent major legal changes and began its long journey in separating church from state. The government began to view faith as a matter for each individual citizen rather than for the nation as a whole, a change which was highly controversial in a time where Catholicism and Christianity ruled over Europe. Like in many areas of the world during the 20th century, we saw an uprise of social changes regarding religion. A light shone upon the world, highlighting the hate against those who did not practice Christianity.
France’s legal enforcement of hijab bans began primarily in February 2004. In a post 9/11 world where Muslims around the world feared for their kids, had very few opportunities in life and were targeted more than ever before; the National Assembly began to debate what we now know as the 2011 hijab ban. The 2004 Law of Secularity and Conspicuous Religion Symbols in School aimed to ban a range of religious symbols in government-funded schools including Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses and of course, Muslim headscarves. Whilst the law included restrictions on a number of religious attire, it was identified by much of the general public to unevenly target Muslim women. In 2011, France became the first country to ban all women from wearing any sort of veil or niqab outside their homes. This 2011 bill, whose ironic goal was to ‘preserve the ideas of national integrity’ was passed by the National Assembly by a vote of 335 - 1. The sole vote against the ban in the National Assembly was cast by Daniel Garrigue, who warned that ‘to fight extremist behaviour, we risk slipping toward a totalitarian society.’
This leads us to where we are today - a world where the government drapes over a mask that is comprised of everything humanitarian and progressive in order to conceal 100 year old conservative prejudices that reek of ignorance and blind hatred. Dalil Boubakeur, the grand mufti of the Paris mosque, describes the separatism bill perfectly - ‘inconsistent with France’s concept of the secular state’.
This bill has sparked quite a controversy since its first discussions in the late 1990s. Flawed arguments for the bill include the importance of the separation of church and state, the fight against ‘Islamic radicalism’ and discussions of the hijab’s representation of the oppression of women in Islam. However convincing the feminist ideals of this argument may be, removing the choice for women in regards to what they want to wear has always and will always be a human injustice. The arguments which claim the so-called benefits of this disaster of humanity are arguments that make no attempt to understand the hidden beauty of the hijab and the entire religion of Islam.
I have worn the hijab for over 5 years now, it has always been a choice for me and for many of the women I know in my life. Despite the many dangers it may put me in whilst out in society and the many comments I have received as an Islam woman, I have chosen to continue to wear it. With today’s society and the many pressures placed on teenagers in this era, the only reason I would choose to take off the hijab is not to rebel against my religion but out of fear from people like the 335 French politicians who believe that their decision to take my autonomy away is justified.
This bill is filled with nothing but hatred and imperialistic and conservative agendas. This hatred towards Islam has grown to become a centuries old pandemic that society needs to be cured of. It is time for a change and it most certainly is a time of freedom of religion. This has been an era of acceptance and should grow to become a decade of love and community. Religion has always been and should always be a matter of one’s individual heart and every individual heart should always have their freedom of religion.
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