Obama and Sarkozy Clash on Muslim Headscarf, Turkey-EU Issues

US President Barack Obama (L) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy attend a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture of Caen on June 6, 2009. Obama joins the leaders of Britain and France and hundreds of World War II veterans Saturday to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day the beaches of Normandy. As star guest of the commemorations, Obama is to deliver a speech before 9,000 people including 200 US D-Day veterans at a clifftop graveyard in northern France which has become a symbol of America's sacrifice for Europe's freedom.


Interesting exchange in a Obama Sarkozy press conference - when a reporter asked about the comments Obama made in Cairo - when he stated that he would support the Muslim woman's right to wear the headscarf - that it contradicted the French position - Obama replied - in a manner as to insinuate that the French were denying Muslims their liberties - almost in a way as to suggest that this was against what France stands for - and by denying Muslims freedom to wear clothing which expressed their religious beliefs - that Muslims would somehow - be excluded from society - he then set the US up - as an example of how - Muslims could be treated in an environment where they as he says had excelled in.

Obama went on to talk about Turkey being a part of the EU - as a bridge between east and west...

The French President waited for a while - and I thought was not going to answer this - after a pause and another question levelled - Sarkozy broke from his deep thought - says let me answer this.

He said - first - the speech in Cairo was very important - then he says - yes - but I agree with Obama on the headscarf issue and the issue of Turkey -

on the headscarf issue - in France we don't stop Muslims women wearing the headscarf - and that he agreed it was the Islamic women's right to wear one - provided that it was her own choice and that she is not being forced to wear one by her family or group 'entourage' around her. But he went on to say that he don't agree that Muslim women should be allowed to wear the headscarf in French schools and other municipal buildings - because of the strict separation of church and state no public servant - is allowed to display any overt religious symbol be they Catholic, Muslim or Jew.

On Turkey - that he agrees with the President that Turkey is an important bridge - and that some sort of alliance should be formed with them - but that he disagreed on the finer points of how to do it - he said that every American President - from Clinton, Bush and now Obama believe that Turkey should be a part of the European Union - that is the stated American position.

But his major concern is about the security of the EU - body of nations, and not to expose it to undo risk - so therefore he went on to say - that Turkey could become a part of a Turkish Russian EU security zone.


I would agree and I think many in the Euro-zone would also - that idea of a Turkish Russia EU security zone is a better one - where Turkey becomes a partner of sorts as well as it covers the US strategic interests - the military bases they have in Turkey - it brings in Russia - a constant worry - but more importantly frees Europe - from the religious restrictions that Turkey no doubt endeavour to impose on it. And perhaps this idea gives the Turkish the freedom to create the Islamized state they dream of - to the point that they are comfortable with - and if there is ever a military coup - this will not destabilize the rest of Europe. In addition - every change to the Turkish legal system doesn't have to come into conflict with European law - important more for those travelling to a Turkey supposedly under the EU flag.

A few years ago the Turkish wanted to re-introduce a law that punished adultery (more aimed at women), it was only through opposition from the EU that they backed down - but think - if an EU citizen in Turkey and commits adultery - or fornicates - just as with the two British women in Dubai - they could find themselves behind bars - for what is considered legal in every other part of the EU - and indeed in the rest of the free world.

We should consider the fact that once Turkey is allowed to become an EU member - whether it will be in a position to prevent the Turkish from introducing these kinds of Islamic laws - especially with the incentive to join - having been overcome.

Sarkozy was no push over today. And told the sometimes dreamy Obama where his limits where.

As for the Obama stance - there was a case in the US - where a Muslim police woman was denied her request to alter her police uniform to include the Islamic headscarf - by the court. Obama likely has a fight in his own country on this one.

To bring up the headscarf issue in Cairo - I thought was a soft target - although I did immediately think of the French position - though I later thought it might be some attempt at placating Turkish PM Erdogan - who altered his country's constitution so that women can wear the headscarf in schools and municipal buildings - he was taken to court - for this an other attempts to blatantly turn Turkey into an Islamic state.

Bulgaria has also had troubles with the Islamic headscarves in state schools - but not before the influence of the Arab NGO's who are basically putting out literature - telling the European Muslims - who are native to Bulgaria - that the young women needed to dress as Muslims do in Arabia and the Middle East - and if they don't they are told - they will go to hell or suffer God's wrath. There was one court case - where a young girl was fighting for the right to wear the black headscarf and Arabian style robes to school - the elephant in the room was - that her representative in the case was the Arab NGO. The Bulgarian side asked if there were no specific wear for men - and the Arab representative was asked whether he believed men and women were equal. The case was decided on basis that - the Islamic clothing was a way to control women and to advertise their subjugated or second class status - with regards to men in Islam - and her request was denied. Where the girl accepted the ban - the Arab NGO wanted to pursue the case.


The French headscarf case was also interesting - as it wasn't a simple headscarf request - Muslims parents were attempting to impose Islamic rules on the school. They among other requests - did not want their daughters to learn biology, or be taught by a 'male' teacher - in French state schools. In EU countries Muslims parents have been reluctant to allow their daughters to go on school trips - for fears (phobias) about modesty. It got to the point in France - where they just had to say 'no' - to all religious expression in state institutions schools included - period - and regardless of religion. The Muslims unfortunately took it the hardest. Mind you Sikhs also complained - as they wear the turbans.

Egypt has taken steps to prevent female medical staff from wearing the face veil in hospitals - a piece of Islamic clothing that 30 years ago was almost unseen in Egypt - the government cited that patients should know who they are being treated by - and that this it supported by international medical standards.

In Kuwait newly elected women not wearing the headscarf - saw fellow male parliamentary members walk out in protest - over the fact that these women showed their hair.

Like so many Muslim women around the world - the right not to wear the headscarf is the considerably bigger issue.

Obama has put his foot in something that he has not sought to understand fully. And Sarkozy was right to challenge him.