France raises Sikh turban hopes

[birkhalsa]

France raises Sikh turban hopes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asi...sia/3483409.stm

Sikhs say the turban is a way of life

The French Government says it will find a "solution" for Sikhs who are angry at a proposed ban on turbans and other religious symbols in state schools.

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin made his remarks in India, where he has faced opposition over the issue.

"I am sure we are going to find a solution that will be satisfactory for the Sikh community in France," he said after talks in Delhi.

But he said any solution would be within the constraints of the new law.

Several dozen Sikhs and Muslims held protests in the Indian capital ahead of Mr De Villepin's talks with his Indian counterpart, Yashwant Sinha, at which the new law was discussed.

The French foreign minister said France's commitment to human rights and democracy had led to the decision to ban religious symbols in state schools.

He was at pains to stress that the law was not intended to target any religious group.

But he gave no details of how his government might find a compromise within the new law for the tiny, 6,000-strong Sikh community in France.

Nor did he say whether "solutions" could be found for the many other religions whose members are up in arms at the proposed ban.

Mr De Villepin later told Tarlochan Singh, head of India's National Commission for Minorities and himself a Sikh, that France would seek "practical solutions" to th

e problem, a French official said.

Sikhs say the turban is not a religious symbol but an integral part of the Sikh way of life.

The turbans are used to contain the long hair of Sikhs, which their religion prohibits them from cutting.

They complain that the ban will force them to do so and is tantamount to forcing them to give up their religion.

On Wednesday a Sikh delegation met the French ambassador in Delhi and presented him with a petition asking for the government to reverse its decision to pass the law.

The petition included 100,000 signatures from Sikhs worldwide.

MPs in France's lower house passed the controversial bill this week.

The legislation is not expected to face difficulty clearing the upper chamber, and should be in force for the new academic year in September.

Sikhs in France complain they are accidental victims of legislation intended to curb the wearing of headscarves by Muslim schoolgirls.

They say the proposed law was drawn up without officials realising its potential impact on their community in France, which has five million Muslims.

The wearing of Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crucifixes will also be affected.

[Khalsa4ever]

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

I hope they do...

vwihgurU jI kw Kwlsw!

vwihgurU jI kI &iqh!!

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

"But he said any solution would be within the constraints of the new law. "

Looks pretty hopeless to me (in terms of France's stance).

So, any deconstruction of the largest symbols of religion taking place yet, namely Christian churches?

Hypocrites...

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

:g :g :g :g : MAYBE I SHOT PREMATURELY....LET'S WAIT AND SEE