Lewis
Member
I Lewis, heard some Christian say that they were shocked at this ban. And I am shocked that Christians said that. I am for it.
So why can't we do this here? Just two arrests as France brings in burka ban (and the only real demo is in LONDON)
9:05 PM on 11th April 2011
- Two women wearing veils arrested today at Paris protest
- Muslim tycoon encourages women to flout ban
The demonstrations, however, were on a relatively small scale with the handful of protesters being outnumbered by police, reporters and tourists.
Ironically, the biggest protest was actually in London where a group of women in full black burkas gathered outside the French Embassy.
Shouting slogans and bearing banners with the words Shariah 4 France, Nicolas Sarkozy Burn In Hellfire and Niqab: Honour For Women, they were the most vocal opponents to the new law.
Hateful preacher Abu Izzadeen, who has previously been jailed for incitement, spoke during the protest.
The burka ban has been dogged by controversy until becoming law in France today.
Women who break the new legislation could face fines of 150 euros, or £132, as well as citizenship lessons.
But officers involved in today's arrests in Paris said they were likely to be released shortly after being questioned about an illegal gathering.
Detained: Kenza Drider is led away by police officers after being arrested for wearing a burka outside Paris's Notre Dame cathedral on the day that the ban became law
They should not be here demonstrating against anything, least of all the face veil ban', said one officer, who was wearing full riot gear as he stood outside Notre Dame
Alexis Marsan, a public order official who also attended the scene, confirmed that the rally in front of the cathedral was unauthorised, and that others taking part had also been arrested.
Rachid Nekkaz, a Muslim activist who organised the demonstration, said it opposed the ban, which is the first of its kind to be enforced in Europe.
NIQABS AT NOTRE DAME: PARIS PROTESTS AT BURKA BAN
A bizarre alliance of right-wing nationalists and militant feminists joined forces to support France’s burka ban in central Paris today.
But it was the women wearing niqabs who drew most of the attention next to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.
‘We view this ban as an assault on our human rights, and those staging counter demonstrations are solely here to cause trouble,’ shouted Aisha, a 28-year-old mother-of-two.
Although she kept her veil free to avoid arrest, Aisha made it clear that she was contemptuous of the kind of people who want to stop her wearing the niqab or the burka.
‘The feminists say it oppresses women, while the nationalists just don’t like to see Muslims in France,’ she said. ‘It’s a strange alliance, but one which the French government clearly wants to win over in time for next year’s presidential election.’
As she spoke two niqab wearers standing nearby outside Notre Dame were detained, prompting cheers from the counter-demonstrators.
‘This is just day one of the ban,’ said one of around 100 officers policing the demonstration. ‘We’re going to be involved in these kind of disturbances non-stop.’
Peter Allen
He has urged women in France to engage in 'civil disobedience' by continuing to wear the veil if they so wish, and called on supporters to hold a silent prayer at the cathedral.
'The street is the universal home of freedom and nobody should challenge that so long as these woman are not impinging on anyone else's freedom,' tycoon Nekkaz said in a webcast.
'I am calling on all free women who so wish to wear the veil in the street and engage in civil disobedience,' he said.
Kenza Drider, a 32-year-old Muslim convert, was arrested after taking part in the demonstration.
She said she would be prepared to contest the legislation at the European Court of Human Rights.
'(Wearing the veil) is not an act of provocation,' she said. 'I'm only carrying out my citizens' rights, I'm not committing a crime ... If they (police) ask me for identity papers I'll show them, no problem.'.
Police admitted they were enforcing the ban extremely cautiously because of fears of provoking violence.
They fear Muslims extremists will use the law to provoke fights with officers, while rich visitors from countries like Saudi Arabia will also cause trouble .
The law will be very difficult to apply on certain estates, said Patrice Ribeiro, of the Synergie police union.
Referring to two Paris suburbs where riots regularly break out because of alleged discrimination against Muslims, Mr Ribeiro said: 'I can't see police going to book dozens of veiled women doing their shopping in Venissieux or in Trappes.
'It will be the same when a police officer is about to arrest a veiled Saudi who is about to go into Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysees.
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'In all cases, the forces of order will have to be measured and cautious in their behaviour.'
Synergie has already instructed its members to view the ban as a low priority, and Mr Ribeiro said there would inevitably be incidents.
Mohamed Douhane, another Paris police officer and Synergie member, said he and his colleagues also expected provocation by a minority.
Mr Douhane added: 'Fundamentalist movements are eager to raise the stakes. The police know they will be held responsible for any public order disturbances.'
Police have already been warned not to arrest women in or around mosques, and citizens de-veilings are also banned.
The strict instructions, from Interior Minister Claude Guent, are contained in a nine page circular issued to officers.
With tensions running high within the country's six million strong Muslim community, officers have been told to look out for members of the public taking the law into their own hands.
Instead they will have to call the police, who will in turn have four hours to consider whether an offender should be fined.
This will apply to all garments which cover the eyes, although scarves, hats, and sunglasses are excluded.
As well as a mosque, Muslims will also be able to put on a veil in the privacy of their own homes, a hotel room, or even a car, as long as they are not driving.
Police have already complained that they will have to waste time on burka-chasing, with Denis Jacob, of the Alliance police union, adding: We have more important matters to be dealing with.
The new ban will mean France is officially the second country in Europe, after Belgium, to introduce a full ban on a garment which immigration minister Eric Besson has called a walking coffin.
While French women face the fines and civic duty guidance if they break the law, men who force their wives or daughters to wear burkas will face up to a year in prison, and fines of up to 25,000 pounds.
Posters have already gone up in town halls across France reading: The Republic lives with its face uncovered.
Belgium introduced a full ban last year, although it has not been enforced with any vigour. A ban also looks likely in Holland, Spain and Switzerland.
Widely criticised by Muslims abroad as impinging on their religious freedom, the law has provoked a limited backlash in France where a strict separation of church and state is seen as central to maintaining a peaceful civil society.
On Saturday police in Paris arrested 61 protesters holding an illegal demonstration against the ban.
A number of Islamic extremists from the UK had planned to join them but were intercepted by police at the French border.
Anjem Choudary, head of the outlawed Islam4UK which advocates Sharia law, was turned back as he tried to join the protest.
Officials served Mr Choudary with a legal notice informing him that the French Interior Ministry was banning him permanently.
Abu Izzadeen and Omar Bakri, both also controversial figures based in Britain, also tried to get to the event but were stopped by police.
