French President Chirac enjoys the respect of the 5 million strong Muslim community

By Hadi Taymid, IOL France Correspondent

PARIS, April 21 (IslamOnline.net) – Statements of French Interior Minister Necolai Sarkozy on the necessity that Muslim women take off their veils while being photographed for issuing identity cards have had different repercussions during the Islamic Organizations gathering in France.

Imam of Paris mosque Dalil Abu Bakr did not object to the viewpoint of Sarkozy. “We have to live our life and be subject to the administrative laws,” he said.

However, officials of the Islamic Organizations Union in France have collected signatures to submit a petition to the Interior Ministry, calling for abolition of the law that prohibits wearing veils.

Sarkozy had raised a problem Saturday, April 19, in front of some 15000 French Muslims, half of whom are veiled young women, in the Borjet conference.

“We do not accept that French Muslim women cover their hair while being photographed for identity cards in police stations. Laws related to the Republic should not be violated,” he said.

Thousands of veiled young women have protested Sarkozy’s speech and cries have prevailed all over the conference room.

However, Islamic organization secretary general Fouad Olwi interfered to restore order and calmness among attendees. “French Muslims never seek to breach the Republican laws,” he said.

“Yet, they demand to amend this law, as they deem it an unfair one,” he added.

“France that abolished the law of Yellow Star of David, which forces the French Jews to carry this star, is able to annul all laws that contradict Muslims’ beliefs.”

On the reactions he faced during his visit on Saturday to the Islamic organization gathering, Sarkozy said, “I have been waiting for such reaction, but I should never retreat.”

Al-Tuhami Ibriz, head of the Islamic organizations in France, said that Sarkozy’s visit to Borjet conference is a historical one.

Sarkozy defended his visit to the Islamic organization gathering in France.

“It is a reply to all racist claims, as it marks the first anniversary following the rightist extremist Jean Marie Leban’s arrival to the second stage of presidency elections in 2002,” he said in a statement to Le Parisien newspaper Monday, April 21.

“I see no reason why I should not attend the Borjet conference. On the contrary, I think those should be given a priority,” he added.

“We should go and attend whenever possible. It has been urgent. Yet, if we go, we should be frank and broad-minded.”

Despite being criticized, Sarkozy was welcomed, as it was an unprecedented visit by a French Interior Minister. “It is unacceptable to humiliate a French Muslim because of his religious belief,” he said.

Sarkozy underlined the importance of establishing the French Council for Islamic Religion that is deemed the first council to represent French Muslims in the history of France.

He emphasized the necessity of setting up an institute for mosque imams; the graduates of which adapt themselves to the requirements of French Muslims, particularly their new generations.

Sarkozy did not forget to mention that among adaptation requirements is the respect for the principles upon which the French Republic has been built.

Statements of the French Interior Minister on women’s veils have raised arguments about the limits and aspects of religion in France.

Observers say that separation may affect the French Council for Islamic Religion in the short term due to the different attitudes towards the question of veil between Paris mosque and the Islamic Organizations Union that strongly defends the veil.