France has begun to consider a ban on all conspicuous religious symbols in public schools in hopes of enforcing a strict separation between the religious and public domains. Ironically, this means that the government is regulating religious practices. The law could be enforced as soon as the upcoming school year.

Despite the arguable reasons for why they wish to ban these religious symbols, a more perilous situation exists. France has made no effort to conceal the fact that this is mainly targeted toward Muslim head scarves worn by women, though the list also includes Jewish skullcaps and large crosses. According to various publications, French President Jacques Chirac believes that the Islamic head coverings are forcing traditions on the French population and preventing Muslims from “assimilating” into the society.

But what about the Muslim population? Wouldn’t demanding them to remove their head scarves essentially be forcing French traditions upon them? There’s no rational link between France wanting to enforce its secularism and unjustly targeting peaceful religious practices of Muslim students. One of the original ideas behind secularism in the United States was to promote religious freedom, a missing component in the implementation of French “secularism.” Maybe Chirac and his party are wary of the fact that France has one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe, irrationally giving them an increased risk in terrorism – or they are just plain discriminatory.

Either way, this is an attack on an entire religion of 1.5 billion. Muslims cannot live peacefully in a supposedly neutral country. History is known to repeat itself, but I hope that this new ban is not a step toward World War III or genocide. The last thing we need is another Holocaust.

Bazza Alzouman

SMG ’05