New Delhi, June 25: Muslim leaders slammed French President Nicolas Sarkozy for describing burqa as a sign of “subservience”, saying it was a “direct attack” on Islamic identity and meant to “provoke” the community.
“Sarkozy’s statement on burqa is a direct attack on Islamic identity and shows the level of hatred he has towards Islam and Muslims,” Shahi Imam of Delhi-based Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari said.
The French President had told a special session of Parliament that “the burqa is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience.”
“France calls itself a secular democratic country. So, how can Sarkozy deny his people the right to freedom of religion,” Bukhari said, adding “such steps and injustice give birth to extremists elements who later become terrorists.”
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind spokesman Abdul Hameed Nomani said, “this is a negative attitude of French President and it shows how much influenced he is by anti-Islamic propaganda.”
“If nudity is not banned in France, then why the wearing of clothes should be?” both Bukhari and Noamani asked.
France has Europe’s biggest Muslim population estimated over four million that includes Indian immigrants from the community.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesman S Q R Ilyas asked the Indian government to lodge a strong protest with the French government.
-Agencies