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| Sarkozy speaks out against burka | Sarkozy speaks out against burka |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken out strongly against the wearing of the burka by Muslim women in France. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has spoken out strongly against the wearing of the burka by Muslim women in France. |
| In a major policy speech, he said the burka - a garment covering women from head to toe - reduced them to servitude and undermined their dignity. | In a major policy speech, he said the burka - a garment covering women from head to toe - reduced them to servitude and undermined their dignity. |
| Mr Sarkozy also gave his backing to the establishment of a parliamentary commission to look at whether to ban the wearing of burkas in public. | Mr Sarkozy also gave his backing to the establishment of a parliamentary commission to look at whether to ban the wearing of burkas in public. |
| In 2004, France banned the Islamic headscarves in its state schools. | |
| 'Not welcome' | |
| "We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity," Mr Sarkozy told a special session of parliament in Versailles. | "We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity," Mr Sarkozy told a special session of parliament in Versailles. |
| "That is not the idea that the French republic has of women's dignity. | "That is not the idea that the French republic has of women's dignity. |
| Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics | Find out about different styles of Muslim headscarfIn graphics |
| "The burka is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic," the French president said. | "The burka is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French republic," the French president said. |
| But he stressed that France "must not fight the wrong battle", saying that "the Muslim religion must be respected as much as other religions" in the country. | But he stressed that France "must not fight the wrong battle", saying that "the Muslim religion must be respected as much as other religions" in the country. |
| A group of a cross-party lawmakers is already calling for a special inquiry into whether Muslim women who wear the burka is undermining French secularism, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says. | |
| The lawmakers also want to examine whether women who wear the veil are doing so voluntarily or are being forced to cover themselves, our correspondent says. | The lawmakers also want to examine whether women who wear the veil are doing so voluntarily or are being forced to cover themselves, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Sarkozy's speech, made possible by a constitutional amendment he introduced last year, was the first that a French president has made to parliament since the 19th century. | Mr Sarkozy's speech, made possible by a constitutional amendment he introduced last year, was the first that a French president has made to parliament since the 19th century. |
| Later on Monday, Mr Sarkozy was expected to meet the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani. | |
| In 2004, France banned the Islamic headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols from public schools, triggering heated debate in the country and abroad. | |
| France is home to about five million Muslims. | |
| Are you a Muslim living in France? What is your reaction to Mr Sarkozy's comments on the wearing of the burka? Send us your comments using the form below. | |
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