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Unveiled racism in France
THE LAW banning the wearing of religious symbols came into
effect at the beginning of the new school year in France. This law is racist and
sexist because it is aimed at young Muslim girls more than anyone else. On top
of that, it has resolved nothing: the majority of the school students remove the
hijab (veil or headscarf) before they go into school, and put it back on when
they leave.
Some supporters of the new law claimed that the girls are
all active Muslim fundamentalists and that it was necessary to protect other
school students from their influence. Now, the same students are going to
school, but without the hijab.
Significantly, leading Muslim organisations which campaigned
against the law – for example UOIF (Union des Organisations Islamiques de
France), with significant numbers of Muslim students as members – accepted it
once it was passed. When two French journalists were taken hostage in Iraq and
threatened with execution if the law was not scrapped, they decided that it
would be better to go along with the law rather than be branded as supporters of
terrorism, an allegation which certain media outlets made sure they drove home.
Clearly, the hijab is a visible representation of the
submission of women to god, father, brothers, etc. Firstly, however, it is a
personal democratic right. Secondly, we are opposed to women being forced to
wear the hijab. We are equally against obliging them to remove it. If the hijab
can be taken as a sign of oppression, it is no more so than sexist advertising.
It is certainly not by excluding girls from school, depriving them access to
wider acquaintances and connections, that they will be emancipated.
If thousands of women have started wearing the hijab it is,
above all, to protect themselves from the rise of sexism from numerous quarters,
including advertisements, and from the rise of Islamaphobia, especially since
the attacks of 11 September 2001. This is the background to the increasing
numbers of young girls wearing the hijab. Even though they may feel that they
are doing it from individual choice, the real reason stems from the absence of
viable ways of combating these problems.
It’s not for the government to decide what we should think!
Wearing the hijab is a democratic right, alongside other religious beliefs,
philosophies or political convictions. This government is attempting to divide
young people and workers – French or immigrant – restricting our rights in order
to implement general social and economic attacks more easily. Behind
pseudo-integration, lies the oppression of minority cultures.
In the end, the law against religious symbols was passed
with little difficulty, despite the opposition of organisations such as Gauche
Révolutionnaire, community groups and individuals, often coming together under
‘right to schooling for all’ collectives. The lack of action on the part of
certain parties which claim to be on the side of the workers – for example, the
support given to the government by Lutte Ouvrière, among others – was a big
factor.
The only way to eradicate racism, oppression and the
influence of religious fundamentalism, of whatever complexion, is to fight for a
socialist society where the democratic rights of all would be respected, where
education would be free and accessible to all. It is in that sense that Gauche
Révolutionnaire continues to campaign against racism and discrimination.
Fatima, and Gigliola Passalacqua
Gauche Révolutionnaire, CWI France
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