If God did not exist, humans would have had to invent him; so said Voltaire, spiritual father of secularism in France. But now, in the name of God, Muslims inside and outside France are denouncing a recent decision by the French parliament to ban all religious symbols, including headscarves, from the country’s public schools. The ban passed with overwhelming support from legislators, and polls show the French people to be squarely behind their leaders.
Supporters say the ban will bring back the values of the French Revolution, of liberty and equality, and help integrate the sons and daughters of immigrants into French society. Opponents argue that it will alienate young Muslims and will push them to the hands of militant gangs.
Guests:
Gilles Kepel, Chair of Middle East studies in the institute for Political Science in Paris
Farid La Roussi, Professor
of French Literature, Yale-University.