Marine Le Pen proposes ban on all religious symbols in France

Jardine Malado Thursday, October 20, 2016

Marine Le Pen at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, June 25, 2016. | REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen

Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front (FN), said that she will ban all religious symbols in all public places in France if she is elected president next year.

Le Pen explained that the ban, which would include kippas, headscarves, veils, burqas and burkinis, would be a part of a "sacrifice" to fight against Islamic extremism.

"I know it is a sacrifice but I think the situation is terrible these days," she said to BFMTV. "I know that every French person, including [French] Jews can understand that if we ask for this sacrifice from them [in the framework] of the battle against the advance of Islamic extremism, they will make this effort and understand it," she added.

The FN leader said she would extend a 2004 law that already bans religious symbols in schools to include all public places. Le Pen noted that she is not bothered by Jewish skull caps but they will be included in the ban.

"It is clear that kips are not the issue within our country. But for the sake of equality, they should be prohibited," she said, as quoted by Express. "If I requested to ban solely Muslim attire, people would slam me for hating Muslims," she continued.

She suggested that the national police force that enforces traffic rules could also enforce the ban on religious symbols.

Le Pen heads the third largest party in France and it is gaining popularity among voters due to the recent terrorist attacks in the country.

She also promised to hold a national referendum on France's membership to the European Union if she is elected. She criticized the current administration for being too "lax" with regards to the migrant crisis.

Last July, several mayors imposed a prohibition against burkinis in about 30 French coastal towns. The highest administrative court declared the ban illegal but a majority of the mayors defied the ruling.

Earlier this month, five mayors in the south-east of France declared a ban on the public use of shisha pipes. Critics decried the restriction as an assault on Arab and Muslim immigrants in the country.