Session has started. Please submit your questions. We apologize beforehand for not being able to answer all of your questions due to time limitation.
Answer
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Name
R.Ahmed
- Morocco
Profession
Question
Dear brothers
It is possible to collect the signatures of the muslims in France to address some complaints to the French government while refusing the law to ban the hijab
Answer
Effectively. A lot of people are emphasizing on collecting signatures of Muslims and non-Muslims to address some complaints to the French government. At least, we need 10 thousand signatures before the adoption of the law.
Name
Maha
-
Profession
Question
First I would like to greet you for the wonderful work that you did, and remind you that you still have a long way to go. May Allah help you in this regard.
My question is, could you tell us about your own personal experience with hijab in France? Do you encounter difficulties, harrassments, or any kind of objection to what you wear from the French street?
Answer
There are many people who are really racist. We have to be mature in order to keep one's dignity and it's a struggle against intolerance.
Name
Jim
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Did you personally experience direct objection from school authorities over your hijab? Could you speak to us about this? Are you prevented from entering school for that reason?
Answer
Surely. I was in a school where there was a strict approach to controlling what we wore. The problem wasn't hijab in itself. They coerced us to wear jeans, dresses that did not really conform with Islam. I didn't wear hijab because, in reality, my family was anxious and worried about my school future.
Name
Dan
- United States
Profession
Question
Could you give us a general idea about the overall atmosphere of mobilization among Muslim women in France? Are they politically aware enough, or do you feel that there is more that needs to be done at home, inside France, to better the conditions of those women?
Answer
Before the publication of the Stazi report, we didn't realize or were not aware that the government would reinforce a law banning hijab.
For me, when I read this report, I was frustrated, because its content was in controversy with the principles of secularism.
The arguments which were included in the report were harmful. Reaching this level of intolerance is in contradiction with democracy, something a lot of people paid their lives for.
We need now to strengthen our background in order to reinforce our struggle. We have to be aware of our rights and duties. Personally, what I did, till now, has been mostly through research and individual efforts.
Name
Jamila
- Tunisia
Profession
Question
If the law in enacted in schools and universities, would you take off your hijab?
Answer
Ilham: Never! It's my right and I will keep it forever.
Name
Hadia
- Morocco
Profession
Question
I just wish to express my distress at what is happening today in France. The French have taken over our culture, and now they feel threatened that our culture has become visible in their homeland. They simply do not accept differences.
I'm just sending you this to let you know that, as a Moroccan, I too feel the sharpness of the problem you are facing, and I hope you do not succumb to any forms of pressure. This is our fight!
Answer
Ilham: Thanks a lot!
Name
J
-
Profession
Question
Do you feel that the situation of France is more in response to certain domestic problems already existing within the Muslim and Arab community in France?
What is the situation of Muslim converts in France, those who are not of Arab origin but are in fact ethnically "French"?
Answer
Ilham: For the first question, I am not ready to answer, because I am here to denounce a law and not to make a description to what is going on now in France.
For the second question, the converts in France are shocked just like us, because the government forgot them. When the government intended to make the law, they took into consideration immigrant Muslims, there was no consideration of the indigenous Muslim population, and that many French women who converted to Islam do in fact wear the hijab.
They too took part in the demonstration of december 21st.
Name
Karam
- Egypt
Profession
Question
I understand that what you are doing now is trying to exert pressure to prevent the law from becoming official. My question is, what if you fail to do so? What if hijab becomes officially banned? What are you going to do? What is your plan for future resistance? Are you going to continue to wear it and show disobedience?
I hope you choose to resist, because even if you fail to change things, you will definitely present a very important case to the world, and the situation will take the wider circle of discussion it deserves.
Answer
Ilham: For us, there are international declarations which are on our side and we have to make use of them.
We are struggling against a law. In all the cases, there won't be winners or losers. If the law will be adopted, it would mean a serious crisis in French democracy.
The vast majority of Muslim girls will NOT abandon their veils. The recent visit of the French minister to Egypt and the Fatwa of Sheikh Tantawi of Al Azhar will NOT make us abandon our hijab. We wear hijab because we believe in it as an essential part of our religious practice.
Girls that are forced to wear hijab are a minority, yet we only hear talks about that segment. At the same time, girls who actually WANT to wear it, and are wearing it out of their own free will, are not being FORCED to take it off! How reasonable is this?
Name
Ahmad
- Belgium
Profession
Question
What was the reaction of the French government to your protest? Do you think it is a war on Islam? On the Muslim way of life?
Answer
When we asked for the protest authorization, we obtained it in only 20 minutes. We were well received by the security bureau. However, the information service was shocked by the number of the protesters who actually joined us.
As for the second part of your question, I wouldn't like to speak about a war on Islam. It isn't a war. They are afraid of Islam. It's an Islamophobia.
Name
L.Gulaid
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
As-salamu `alaykum
As Muslims living in the west we are obliged to adhere to the covenant of security, that said, I personally believe that this has come about by years of disunity amongst the Muslim ummah, equally by the "masterful" and satanically thinking of policies the likes of secularism by the French government, but most importantly, I believe that the Muslims living in France have a share in this issue, however small it is. This could be seen by the actions of the Muslim activists during the recent demonstrations, how the Muslims were not reluctant to raise the French flag while shouting AL-ISLAM simultaneously, and painting the French flag on their faces. Do you think that this is the result of decades of indoctrination of French secular values by the Muslims? If so, do you think the Muslims should answer by showing the above mentioned, i.e. the raising of the flag etc. I hope nobody is offended by my comments, as they are only thoughts, and I sincerely believe that what you are doing is the guiding force for all the Muslims.
Thank you.
Answer
I don't represent a community. I am here to defend my rights, as a French citizen.
Name
jihad
- Egypt
Profession
Question
I want you to give us ways of contact ,i mean haw can we practicly support you in France???
Answer
You could help us by advocating our cause, making protests and demonstrations in your countries behind the French embassy, write letters to: firdawsss.za@caramail.com
This mail is for a group of girls who struggle against the law.
Thank you.
Name
muslim
-
Profession
academic
Question
What was the reflection of the Sheikh of Al Azhar's declaration about hijab?
Answer
I was shocked. It's grave. Mr Sarkozy is speaks about a French Islam, but he went to Egypt looking for support from Al Azhar.
We waited for Sheikh Tantawi of Al Azhar to issue a fatwa that would at least help us and support us in our struggle.
I am not here to judge Tantawi, but you have to know that he doesn't represent us.
Name
khaled
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
How did you see the stance of CHEIKH ALAZHAR
toward this ban of HIDJAB in france?
and What's the general stance of the French people about this issue?
Answer
You may read our reply to "muslim" about the same question.
Name
Abdalnur
- Germany
Profession
Question
As-salamu alaikum,
Dear sisters in Islam,
Please allow me to ask a question which goes beyond the issue of Hijab. For me as for many observers it seems that the banning of Hijab in school is the first step, grave in itself, but even graver in the consequences, to shape a new form of "French Islam" or "European Islam" which is largely limited to praying and fasting, but excludes any visible signs of religion and any social relevance. Do you also see it this way and are there exemples which you could give us which show in this direction?
And what role do the newly established boards of Muslims play, which were built on initiative of the French government? Are they part of the resistance - in the question of hijab and general - or part of a plan to shape a "new Islam" French-style?
Wassalam and duas!
Answer
I don't speak about French Islam or European Islam. I am a Musilm and I speak about Islam. I am a French citizen. I will be Muslim in France or in any other country.
Concerning the idea of a French Islam reinforced by the French government, I am certainly not in a position to judge that.
As for the second part of your question, the Council represents Muslims. The law is going through the process of activation very quickly. The associations are making a big effort, but it is very important, in my view, that French Muslims move, instead of the associations, in order to confirm one's citizenship.
And I think that the establishment of the Council is one of the aims of Mr. Sarkozy, who is the Minister of Interior.
