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<p>Nothing odd about it because this was not an anti-religious stance or a direct restraint on religion for religious reasons.</p>
<p>The law you mention came about because of interaction with government and companies, not necessarily directly between day-to-day people. The problem was government IDs or any company IDs etc. were useless. The burkas can still be worn and other cloaking headdress are still worn on many areas. </p>
<p>The distinction is that it is one thing to stop someone from hiding his face and from hiding one’s identity in public and completely different to say that means all other religious-based actions are also illegal. These are not the same things. That one law does not extend to other religious-based practices.</p>
<p>Additionally, there are several areas in Paris where French law essentially does not even apply. Technically, yes; in practice, no. There are immigrant muslim slums where French cops even refuse to go in and help people there. Sharia law or whatever other law really rules the day in these parts and good luck getting assistance. </p>
<p>I saw enough French men get arrested for hitting and fighting to know that battery is illegal to some degree. What the actual law about battery says, I have not a clue. In fact, at clubs, they can even pull you out and arrest you on the suspicion you might cause a fight. You never argue with a guy holding an M-16. All they have to do is ask for your papers and if they suspect one thing off you go. However, never saw a French man hit a French or European woman in public. Not once. </p>
<p>Pretty much like our laws here - just because it is written, does not mean it is enforced literally or even at all. </p>
<p>My overall suggestion is stay out of any altercation that is clearly a non-western man and woman. All you do is give reason for the man to possibly hurt the woman further because chances are she is not allowed to have interaction or get touched by an unrelated male, and it also gives him a reason to come after you. And do not expect the French cops or European courts to be in your corner, even if you think you saved her temporarily. She still will be sent go home, and you would have done more harm than good.</p>
<p>@wis75 “In our current town I see many immigrant conservative Muslims and it drives me crazy to see the husbands/fathers in stores wearing short sleeves, bare heads et al while their young wives are covered up except for hands, feet and faces in this hot climate. It doesn’t make sense to me- or less conservative members of the same general religion”</p>
<p>This is not at all comparable to the situation the OP describes. How do you know said wives don’t choose to cover that way? Just because a woman is wearing a headscarf doesn’t mean she’s oppressed.
As for the heat and discomfort, I’ve found that if you wear the right clothing material, it’s not an issue. A lot of Western summer clothing for women is made of materials I would deem to be for winter. Covering more doesn’t mean more discomfort. In fact, when I moved back to this country during HS, I was really disappointed in the clothing. The native clothing for women of my own country was much more comfortable, while at the same time being much more modest. I would be a little envious of the guys’ section which was filled with loose t-shirts and baggy jeans. Modesty has nothing to do with comfort levels, especially for women.</p>
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<p>The law in question is about students in school, very few of whom wear burkas or other similarly-concealing head coverings or veils (as opposed to less covering headscarves, yarmulkes, and turbans – these are also prohibited).</p>
<p>^^ Not sure which part of the statute you are referring to, but it really does not matter because schools in France is all government run, so school IDs are government IDs. The relevant issue, however, is it was not an anti-religious statue; it was directly related to identification purposes, i.e., passports, government IDs, and company IDs - at least that is how it is interpreted. And clearly enough were wearing these that a law had to be passed, as some schools are approaching majority non-western.</p>
<p>It would also surprise how many do wear the all concealing headdresses, if allowed to. Just go to the right part of town and you will think you changed countries. What the law does is it stops the practice from being pervasive in certain situations where identification is important.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is why identity can’t just be checked by a member of the same sex. Just a little extra effort for the sake of respect and religious freedom is required. </p>