JOINING in the debate currently raging in France about whether its Muslim women should be allowed to wear burqa, French President Nicolas Sarkozy while offering his views, published in Dawn on June 23, said “The issue of the burqa is not a religious sign; it is a sign of the subjugation of women. I want to say solemnly it will not be welcome on our territory.” And he said this to strong applause in the parliament.

One would like to point out a few facts to him. Nuns also wear a dress that is close to being a burqa, spend their lives cut off from the world in a nunnery, and practice celibacy. However, neither Mr Sarkozy nor anybody else questions their right to lead such a restrictive life.

In contrast, Muslim women wearing a burqa do go out and do get married and even attend educational institutions, with some also opting to work in offices. Aren't they much freer than the nuns?

Similarly, many non-Muslim women in Russia, East Europe and Africa wear clothes that nearly cover them, including headscarves, yet their right to dress like that isn't questioned.

Furthermore, there are beaches and camps in France and other western countries where women go topless or both men and women are totally nude, which is considered outrageous by most human beings, but the French president and many lawmakers are obsessed only about Muslim females' dresses.

By the way, a survey of Muslim women done a couple of years back in many countries had shown that the great majority said they did not find the veil to be restrictive. I myself do not use such a covering. However, it should be left to the women themselves to decide whether they want to wear it. Democracy can't be selective.

SARAH ANWER

Karachi