France discuss plans to outlaw burqa from all public facilities

[Neo-Logic]

France government announcing plans of banning burqa from all public facilities -- schools, government offices, public places -- has polarized their government and the view of the world on this topic. The French government claims that the goal of this law is to stop gender based inequalities with the belief that Muslim women are being forced to wear the burqa against their will by their husbands.

Subtract from the scenario that it's France. In general, what do you believe the role of government is when it comes to religion?

To discuss the government's possible role, consider this - the US 1st Amendment reads "Congress Shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This is conflicting because if government is to not prohibit free exercise, it makes logical sense that it should make certain accommodations as to foster religious practices, but it's at the same time to not make any laws respecting an establishment of religion.

Must there be strict neutrality? Complete separation of church and state? Accommodation? How much of religious practice is truly free?

Are there instances when the government should step in (faith healing, danger to children, etc)? Is this one of those instances?

[dust1n]

Sucks for the french women who want to wear them.

[Shadow Wolf]

This one, I can admit, I'm kinda torn between. On one hand, there is freedom of religion, and on the other, women's rights. Maybe a middle ground is needed, in which that doesn't ban burqas entirely, but possibly making it so that forcing a woman to wear one can be considered a form of abuse.

[dust1n]

Originally Posted by Shadow Wolf

This one, I can admit, I'm kinda torn between. On one hand, there is freedom of religion, and on the other, women's rights. Maybe a middle ground is needed, in which that doesn't ban burqas entirely, but possibly making it so that forcing a woman to wear one can be considered a form of abuse.

That's a good one. Or just a law that if a woman reports their husband forcing them to wear one, a couple guys could come over and rough him up a little bit.