Law Commons^™

The French 'Headscarves Ban': Intolerance Or Necessity ?, Reuven Ziegler

Dr. Reuven (Ruvi) Ziegler

The notion analyzed in the article is that a right can often be interpreted in contrasting terms in different countries, even if these countries are all signatories to the same human rights conventions and are considered to be western liberal democracies. Hence, the protection granted to a particular right is greatly affected by the fundamental tenets of the social framework in a given society. I substantiate my claim empirically by offering a critique of the recent 'headscarves ban' in French public schools. While the ban enjoys overwhelming public support in France, insisting that it protects the fabric of French society, …