Sarkozy Says Burqas ‘Not Welcome’

"The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement — I want to say it solemnly," Nicolas Sarkozy told the French parliament today. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic." In 2004, France banned women from wearing head-scarves in schools. Today, dozens of legislators are calling for a complete ban of the Islamic dress in the country that has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe. Other French leaders worry that even consideration of the ban could isolate Muslim citizens. Sarkozy’s address today was his first major comment on the issue.