'Sarkozy's remarks on burqa only to provoke Muslims'

Muslim leaders today slammed French president Nicolas Sarkozy for describing the burqa as a sign of "subservience", saying it was a "direct attack" on Islamic identity and meant to "provoke" the community.
       
"Sarkozy's statement on burqa is a direct attack on Islamic identity and shows the level of hatred he has towards Islam and Muslims," Shahi Imam of Delhi-based Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari said.
       
The French president had told a special session of Parliament yesterday that "the burqa is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience."

"France calls itself a secular democratic country. So, how can Sarkozy deny his people the right to freedom of religion," Bukhari said, adding "such steps and injustice give birth to extremists elements who later become terrorists."

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind spokesman Abdul Hameed Nomani said, "this is a negative attitude from the French president and it shows how much influenced he is by anti-Islamic propaganda."

"If nudity is not banned in France, then why should the wearing of clothes be?" both Bukhari and Noamani asked.

France has Europe's biggest Muslim population estimated over four million that includes Indian immigrants from the community.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesman SQR Ilyas asked the Indian government to lodge a strong protest with the French government.

"This statement is against the spirit of democracy. It is highly undemocratic and condemnable," Ilyas said, adding Indian government and Organisation of Islamic Conference, a group of 57 Muslim countries, must take up the issue with France.

Influential Darul Uloom Deoband's spokesman Maulana Ashraf Usmani said, "Purdah is part of Islamic identity. How can it be banned?"

"OIC should put pressure on France and take a tough stand on it," Bukhari said.

Sarkozy should restrain from such remarks, he suggested, adding "such statements would not be tolerated." 

Qari Usman, former deputy rector of Darul Uloom seminary said, "such moves are very harmful to the tradition of democracy, and it has come in a society where people talk about freedom of expression and freedom to practice religion."

"Secularism is about practicing one's religion without being hindered. Wearing of a veil does not harm anybody. What is the problem if a woman studies, works and lives a normal life while wearing a veil," Usman said.

"It would be good if the Indian government and other secular nations take up this issue with France the way they did in the case of the controversy on Sikh religious symbols," he added.