“We do not feel or claim to believe that all's been settled with this bill,” Raffarin

PARIS, March 4 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The French Senate approved by a large majority a bill banning hijab and other religious insignia in state schools on Wednesday, March 3.

The proposal was adopted with 276 in favor and 20 against, despite the recent mass protests by the five-million-estimated Muslims and human rights at home and the appeal of some countries against the ban, BBC reported.

French President Jacques Chirac has 15 days to sign into law the bill - adopted by the lower house last month by overwhelming majority, according to the BBC.

Chirac said in a televised speech in December 2003 that the "Islamic veil - whatever name we give it - the kappa and a cross that is of plainly excessive dimensions" have no place  in the precincts of state schools.

Human Rights Watch also said in a report published on Friday, February 27, that the law- expected in effect in September 2003 - is “discriminatory” as it disproportionately affects Muslim girls in the European country.

“The impact of a ban on visible religious symbols, even though phrased in neutral terms, will fall disproportionately on Muslim girls, and thus violate anti-discrimination provisions of international human rights law as well as the right to equal educational opportunity,” read the report.

In Islam, hijab is an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations – unlike the symbolic Christian crucifixes or Jewish Kappas.

Demonstrators took to streets in more than 25 countries on Saturday, January 17, for an international day  against the ban.

‘Powerful Signal’

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told senators before the vote that the law did not aim to discriminate against religions but to “send a powerful and quick signal”.

Raffarin insisted the law was needed to contain the spread of what he called “Muslim fundamentalism” and ensure that the principle of secularism on which France is based remains intact.

“Our vision of secularity is not opposed to religions. Everybody has the right to express his faith as long as he respects the laws of the Republic inside the Republic's schools,” he said.

“We do not feel or claim to believe that all's been settled with this bill,” he added.

Observers voiced concerns that the ban in public-owned schools could sweep to other areas beside public schools, much to the consternation of Muslims here.

Raffarin said France needs to explain the planned law better,
especially “on the international level”.

French missions abroad must “try to reassure those who are concerned,” he said.

The Senate, which like the lower house is controlled by conservatives such as Chirac, dismissed 23 proposed amendments raised in two days of debate. The amendments were offered mainly by the left, the USA Today reported.

The law is to be re-examined after a year in force to see whether “conspicuous” should be replaced by “visible”, it added.

The opposition Socialists had argued during the lower house debate that “visible” is a less ambiguous term that would make the law easier to apply.

Some French MPs, backed by Muslim leaders and rights groups, have warned that the new law could be seen as intolerant and undermine the integration of France's Muslims.

Many governments and human rights groups have criticized the bill - including the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the U.S.-based advisory group, the Commission on International Religious Freedom.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone who said Paris’s move is "anti-Muslim measure" and accused Chirac of playing a “terribly, terribly dangerous game”.

A U.S. Congressman threatened in February that he would draft resolution condemning the imminent law, and 50 other senators signed a letter sent to the French ambassador to express their concerns over the ban.

But Press reports said that most of France's political parties, and around 70% of the population, support the ban which Muslim leaders keep warning it risks being intolerant.