FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday lashed out at the burqa, labelling the all-encompassing Islamic form of dress:
A sign of subservience, a sign of debasement. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.
In a high-profile speech to lawmakers in the historic chateau at Versailles, Sarkozy said the head-to-toe Muslim bodybags did not accord with French values. They suppress women’s identities and turns them into “prisoners behind a screen”.
According to this report, the President received extended applause when he declared:
In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity.
Caption this hilarious picture, and win a year's subscription to the Freethinker magazine
France is home to Western Europe’s largest population of Muslims, estimated at about five million. A small but growing group of French women wear burqas and niqabs, which either cloak the entire body or cover everything but the eyes.
Dalil Boubakeur, director of the largest Paris mosque, said Sarkozy’s push to keep out the burqa was typical of French culture, but worried that the Presicdent might inflame tensions with Muslims.
He hoped that a ban would not cause “any ill-feeling, controversies or incidents in this confrontation between an Eastern idea and Western life”. if it did, Eastern Muslims, who found themselves completely unable to integrate comfortably into a Western way of life, would have to return to the Orient .
Muslim groups and government officials say it’s hard to know how many women wear burqas and niqabs in France — though estimated to be at least in the hundreds. They are far less prevalent than simpler Muslim head scarves.
The French government is divided on a burqa ban. Immigration Minister Eric Besson said a ban would only “create tensions,” while junior minister for human rights Rama Yade said she was open to a ban if it was aimed at protecting women forced to wear the burqa.
The picture we used to illustrate this report cries out for an amusing caption. Post your entry in the comments section below. The one judged the best wins a year’s free subscription to the print version of the Freethinker. Closing date for entries is June 30.
UPDATE – JUNE 24: You can read an excellent defence of Sarkozy here, and condemnation from the Muslim Council of Britain here.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:35 am
Maybe she`s just allergic to seawater or something (it doesn`t do to jump to conclusions!). I WOULD like to know what this couple are doing, though, as they do seem to be in a most odd position!!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 am
The new halal factor 30 million sunbloc…..
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
"Is that the great minaret of Malwiyya, greatest of the Iraqui Samarra in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?"
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
"he looked longingly into his muslim dominatrix's eyes and his thoughts turned to his next rubber gloved hand job…."
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
But Nazim I am showing you my 'O' face.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
And they're so versatile darling, toilet bowl in the morning, Tigress bathing in the afternoon.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
Advocates of forcibly shrouding women in sacks often claim it's part of a culture that 'protects' them. As we've seen lately, it doesn't protect them from men with guns.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
"Is that you Remigius? Well don't think you're gonna win this one!"
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
The grade 6 Iraqi swimming badge proved difficult when it came to taking off the pyjamas and making a float!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Little did he know that operation "husband swap" was now if full affect.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Arrrgh! I've saved the wrong woman from drowning!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 am
CAPTION: Think positively about this. All you are doing is practicing water boarding for when they stick you in Guantanemo.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 am
PS Whatever it is, they seem to be enjoying it!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:54 am
The beach burqa. God's way of allowing homosexual Muslim men to have underwater relations out in the open and in the closet.
Not that there's anything wrong with it
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:11 pm
CAPTION: Only one person was fully equipped with their Hazmat Suit to swim in an sewage treatment plant.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Those are water wings under there…right?
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Abdul was a hit at the pool with the blowup doll / flotation device he made earlier that morning out of trash bags.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
My caption is
"well I can see your a man but nobody else can"
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
you remind me so much of my first 3 wives, speaking of, are they back with the ice cream yet?
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
"No petting or water-bombing allowed"
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
"If you weren't so bloody ugly, you could wear a bikini too."
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
so THAT'S how you do your laundry……………………
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
CAPTION: "At the crucial moment, Death realised he'd forgotten his scythe."
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
At times like these Wajeeha regretted getting those obscene facial and full body tattoos in her youth….
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
In a deleted scene from the Prisoner Cell Block H DVD set, Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson is rescued by bathers after being tarred and thrown overboard by a vengful ex-con.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
CAPTION: Muslim lady ninja, most discreet mammal known to mankind
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
So near (the water) and yet so far!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Caption: "Uncle Pierre sacrifices himself to the Seine River Ninja as Jean Paul moves his family to safety."
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Hakmed finally fulfills his long time fantasy of seeing what his sister's like in the sack
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 pm
See, I CAN be in two places at one time, AND face opposite directions.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Caption; "It's just that you remind me of my mother"
June 24th, 2009 at 7:43 am
That`s the funniest so far!
June 24th, 2009 at 7:47 am
I`m glad you`re not prejudiced, Theo! I saw a very funny cartoon along these lines recently (I thought it was in Private Eye but I may be wrong), and of course I can`t find it now that I want it!! Two people in burqas are talking, and one says to the other: "It`s no fun being a transvestite in a Muslim country"!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Read about Islam and than talk.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Caption: Ahmed brought his letter box to the pool as his girlfriend as a form of protest to his arranged marriage because she wasn't young enough, like the hairy brother Salim and his new wife on a white and red float.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:50 am
One does not have to drink cyanide to learn about poison!
June 24th, 2009 at 11:00 am
we live in a free world. do people make fun of the women who without respect for themselves exhibit their naked body? do people make fun of Virgin Mary who is covered from head to toe with only the face being shown? If some muslim women exaggerate, it don't mean that women are prisoners behind a veil. Women have been liberated centuries ago through Islam, but only for those who interprete Islam like it should be interpreted.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Caption: "Bear with me, darling. As soon they permit gay marriage you won't have to wear it anymore."
June 24th, 2009 at 11:18 am
if it wasn't for this burqa everyone would be staring at me…
June 24th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Rishra Rai: Some people DON'T live in a free world. They are forced to wear subservient and demeaning garments. Like the woman in the picture.
And besides, in answer to your dim rhetoric – yes – People do make fun of Virgin Mary – and many other fictional characters. If you think women are liberated through Islam – then my friend, you couldn't be more wrong.
How many women are murdered, assaulted, abused, raped, tortured, executed, disfigured, every week in the name of Islam? Even by their own family members. It makes me sick – and is completely indefensible.
Honour? They don't know the meaning of the word.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:30 am
1) Mariam trying out her new FINA approved permeabilty-buoyancy swimsuit with Dubai Muslim authority approval . Only problem : no room for compulsory black goggles.
2) "Chin up, Fadhila".
3) "Fadhi, just imagine you're walking up the hill to the clinic: tread briskly and don't worry about the others, they're not looking at you."
June 24th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
"Does my bomb look big in this?"
June 24th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
"When you're wet you're even more beautiful, Jamima, Oh! sorry : Fatima."
June 24th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Even though he was right there, Amir had no idea it was his wife Shahid was flirting with.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
chrsbol. Mmmm indeed.
Muhummad: "No Abdul. When I said 'Bring along something you can blow up', I meant a lilo – not your sister!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
We live in a free world, but if you arrive at the bank on a motorcycle you're still required to remove the helmet before entering.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Buffy, though they do look like they are in Seine they could also be in de Nile!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Muslim women can enjoy the freedom of swimming-pool fun, but religious authorities are alarmed about the revealing curves of wet linen on shoulders. New plans for American Baseball shoulderpads to be made compulsory under the burqa, for all approved UAE and Saudi pools.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Faouza had nearly mastered treading water when she realised the man helping her wasn't her husband, although the beard looked identical…there was something strange about his happy smile…that's when she realised that she wasn't Faouza at all but a completely different woman…
June 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
New Gulf swimming-pool facilities: at last women are free to take part in the fun, an end to single-sex sessions is welcomed by freethinkers all over the Muslim world.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Something to Meuse on there when you`re on your Rhone!!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Everyone was splashing around and laughing blissfully when suddenly someone noticed two centimetres of Fatima's forearm. That was when the trouble started…read more…
June 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Good one. See my reply to Theo, above!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Excellent!!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Hilarious – but I bet someone thinks it`s "offensive" – hahaha!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
"Everyone was laughing and splashing around blissfully when suddenly someone noticed two centimetres of Fatima's forearm and that's when the riot gegan. Read more about the Saudi Swimming-pool Riot…."
June 24th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
"Everyone was laughing and splashing around blissfully when suddenly someone noticed two centimetres of Fatima's forearm and that's when the riot began. Read more about the Saudi Swimming-pool Riot…."
June 24th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Man with beard – "I think we're going to get away with it, Brian."
June 24th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Latest Jazeera stop-press: seven women nearly drowned in Saudi swimming-pool:
A hospital official gave the press extra details this morning at 7.30 am: "All seven women are now comfortable and will be released from hospital today. A criminal inquiry has been opened as to how the twenty square metres of horrendously heavy black waterlogged fabric found its way into the pool in the first place, pinning mothers, wives and sisters to the floor of the pool. Evidence of foul play has been registered but will be withheld until further proof.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Unfortunately, we HAVE read about it!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
the 2009 winner of miss 'wet burqa & loony ideology' frolics with an adoring fan, shortly before being stoned to death by her brother…
June 24th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
A husband has sex with his wife, as a plow goes into a field.
The Quran in Sura (Chapter) 2:223 says:
Your women are your fields, so go into your fields whichever way you like . . . . (MAS Abdel Haleem, The Qur’an, Oxford UP, 2004)
——
A woman’s testimony counts half of a man’s testimony.
The Quran in Sura 2:282 says:
And let two men from among you bear witness to all such documents [contracts of loans without interest]. But if two men be not available, there should be one man and two women to bear witness so that if one of the women forgets (anything), the other may remind her. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 205).
————–
Husbands are a degree above their wives.
The Quran in Sura 2:228 says:
. . . Wives have the same rights as the husbands have on them in accordance with the generally known principles. Of course, men are a degree above them in status . . . (Sayyid Abul A’La Maududi, The Meaning of the Qur’an, vol. 1, p. 165)
—————
Husbands may hit their wives even if the husbands merely fear highhandedness in their wives (quite apart from whether they actually are highhanded).
The Quran in Sura 4:34 says:
4:34 . . . If you fear highhandedness from your wives, remind them [of the teaching of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them. If they obey you, you have no right to act against them. God is most high and great. (Haleem, emphasis added)
—————————-
(Sarcasm on) Rishra Rai; Oh yeah…of course they have been "liberated" (!) (Sarcasm off)
June 24th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
one more sorry:
not being the sort of person to pass up a free holiday, Richard Dawkins hit upon a cunning disguise…
June 24th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
There is no Wet T-shirt fun in Islam
June 24th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
"Nasty shock awaits man who won date with Best Turned Out Camel In Show"
June 24th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Like their SAS counterparts, the Special Boat Squadron apprehend their targets with stealth and cunning, and strike when least expected.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Why bother with getting in shape before summer, Fatima thought, when there's a much easier way?
June 24th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
"Does this swimsuit show too much eyebrow, do you think?"
June 24th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
allah akba-thing costumes are all the rage on Saudi beaches….
June 24th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
With the tide rising and her feet encased in concrete, fatima began to regret espousing her feminist views within earshot of a mosque …
June 25th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Caption: Muslims embrace baptism.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Shouldn`t that be the Special Burqa Service?
June 25th, 2009 at 11:14 am
"NOBODY expects the Special Burqa Service. Their main weapon is surprise! Surprise and ruthless efficiency! Their TWO main weapons are…"
June 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
"Bring the family, have fun AND test your ability to withstand torture at Waterboarding Expo 09"
June 25th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
'Hassan? is that you?'
June 25th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
After reaching under the water for a little wet-n-wild, Ahmed finally realized that his long time wife was actually his best friend Abdul from the al-Qaeda training camp class of '86. His last remark was: "Friggen' burqa" and then "to hell with it". They are still living together.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
She wore an itsy-bitsy teeney-weeney black-hooded 1-piece bikini…
June 27th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Ecellent Simon!!! I think this is the best yet!!!!!
Godless not gormless
June 27th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
LOL
June 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
(Copyright Associated Press). A family watches as an infidel (not pictured) is fed to a caged shark in this undated photo from Yemen.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Best one. Funny because it is so true.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
As Jesus and Mo would say, "Thank you for not provoking my uncontrollable lust."
July 1st, 2009 at 8:32 am
That`s a good one!
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I rule hehehe thanks!