[Aurel]

I am actually very proud of this courageaous measure passed by the french, which reafirms the values of laicity and separation of religion and government.

I agree with dd74 that this measure is mostly targeted at muslim headscarves, and I would like to explain why muslim headscraves are contrary to the values of most civilized western countries.

Every religious custom very often has a practical origin and served a specific purpose at a given time. Headscarves, and the full coverage of women, were intended to protect them from the view of men, just like one would put a cover on his porsche.
In a machist society were women are possessions, the scarf was a way for men to protect their possession from the lust of other men who, like animals, cannot control themsleves at the vue of beauty.

The acceptance of the scarf by women is a sign of submission to men, and most modern women tend to get away from that, if they are given the choice.

In my view, the muslim scarf is insulting not only for women, because it forces them to hide thier beauty, but it is also insulting to men, because it assimilates to beasts who cannot behave as gentlemen with women.

The headscarf is an obsolete religious sign that modern muslims are being encouraged to give up in public places by the french. I think this is the message being sent by this new law.

Aurel