WUNRN
Human Rights Without Frontiers -
HRWF
Widespread Support for Banning Full Islamic Veil
in Western Europe
Pew Forum (08.01.2010) - On July 13, members of the lower house of the French parliament are expected to vote on a bill that would make it illegal for Muslim women to wear full veils - those that cover all of the face except the eyes - in public places. A survey by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, conducted April 7 to May 8, finds that the French public overwhelmingly endorses this measure; 82% approve of a ban on Muslim women wearing full veils in public, including schools, hospitals and government offices, while just 17% disapprove.
Majorities in Germany (71%), Britain (62%) and Spain (59%) would
also support a similar ban in their own countries. In contrast, most Americans
would oppose such a measure; 65% say they would disapprove of a ban on Muslim
women wearing full veils in public places compared with 28% who say they would
approve. (1) In the four Western European countries surveyed as well as in the
U.S., support for a ban on Muslim women wearing a full veil is more pronounced
among those who are age 55 and older, although majorities across all age groups
in France, Germany and Britain favor a ban. For example, 91% of French
respondents age 55 and older approve of restrictions on Muslim women covering
their face, compared with 81% of those ages 35 to 54 and 72% of those younger
than 35.
In Spain, where 70% in the older group and a narrower majority
(55%) of those ages 35 to 54 favor a ban on full veils, younger respondents are
closely divided; 49% of those ages 18 to 34 approve of such measures and 47%
disapprove. In the U.S., about one-third (35%) of those in the oldest age group
say they would welcome a ban on veils that cover the whole face except the
eyes, while 28% of those ages 35 to 54 and just 22% of those younger than 35
say the same. (2)
Opinions about banning Muslim women from wearing a full veil do
not vary along gender lines in any of the five countries where the question was
asked. In France, Britain and the U.S., views on this matter are also similar
across education and income groups. However, in Spain and Germany, those in
higher income groups are more likely than the less affluent to approve of such
a ban; for example, a slim majority (51%) of low-income respondents in Spain
favor a ban on full veils, compared with 62% of those in the middle-income
range and 68% of those with high incomes.
Ideologically, those on the right in France, Britain and Germany
are more likely than those on the left to approve of a ban on women wearing the
full Islamic veil in public places, but majorities across the political
spectrum in these countries endorse such a ban. In France, 87% of those on the
right support prohibiting women from wearing full veils in public, and 75% of
those on the political left agree. Spain is the only Western European country
surveyed where those on both ends of the ideology scale express nearly
identical views; 59% of those on the right and 57% of those on the left approve
of a ban on Muslim women wearing veils that cover the whole face. Ideological
differences are also insignificant in the U.S. (3)
(1) Ban on
veils that cover the whole face
France:
82% approve while 17% disapprove
Germany: 71%
approve while 28% disapprove
Britain: 62%
approve while 32% disapprove
Spain: 59%
approve while 37% disapprove
US: 28% approve
while 65% disapprove
Pew Research Center Q59
& Q59fra
(2) Age
differences in opinions about a ban on full veils
Britain:
Age group 18-34: 52%
approve
Age group 35-54: 61%
approve
Age group 55+: 71%
approve
France:
Age group 18-34: 72%
approve
Age group 35-54: 81%
approve
Age group 55+: 91%
approve
Germany
Age group 18-34: 58%
approve
Age group 35-54: 71%
approve
Age group 55+: 77%
approve
Spain:
Age group 18-34: 49%
approve
Age group 35-54: 55%
approve
Age group 55+: 70%
approve
US:
Age group 18-34: 22%
approve
Age group 35-54: 28 %
approve
Age group 55+: 35%
approve
Pew Research Center Q59
& Q59fra
(3) Ideological
differences in opinions about full veil ban
U.S. respondents were
asked if they consider themselves conservative, moderate or liberal. In Europe,
they were asked to place themselves on a left-right spectrum.
Britain
Left: 55% approve
Center: 63% approve
Right: 69% approve
France
Left: 75% approve
Center: 83% approve
Right: 87% approve
Germany
Left: 63% approve
Center: 72% approve
Right: 76% approve
Spain
Left: 57% approve
Center: 62% approve
Right: 59% approve
US
Left: 24% approve
Center: 26% approve
Right: 31% approve
See our report "Is the burqa compatible with women's
rights?" http://www.hrwf.net
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