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Issue 244, Friday 28 August 2009 - 8 Ramadan 1430

Only 367 women in France wear niqab

By Elham Asaad Buaras

News that only 367 women in all of France wear the niqab (full face covering garment) has undermined President Nicolas Sarközy position of pushing for a ban on the garments, according to France’s largest circulating newspaper.

Le Monde said that in light of the tiny number of women concerned, the idea of a ban, supported by Sarközy should be dropped. Sarközy has said the veils were “not welcome” in France.

The lowly figure has also put into question why panels of legislators who usually preside over important issues like national security are currently deliberating on whether it backs a ban on the veils in public places, as advocated by some politicians.

Hind Mukhtar of France’s Muslim Youth Women’s Association told The Muslim News the latest figures had “exposed Sarközy as an Islamophobe with an irrational agenda against all things Islam related.”

Mukhtar’s views were echoed by many in the Muslim world. In its editorial, the Gulf News says, “The damage can still be minimized. Sarközy whose anti-burqa remarks were widely reported, owes the French people and the Muslims in his country and around the world an explanation. If the issue is marginal, why make it a national crusade?”

Interestingly French converts to Islam account for around a quarter of wearers, the newspaper said, quoting the reports.