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CNN Live At Daybreak
Headscarf Legislation: French Lawmakers to Vote
Aired February 10, 2004 - 06:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In just about four hours, the French Assembly will vote on whether to ban headscarves in public schools, but this is -- this is about more than keeping religion out of the public schools.
Let's head live to Paris now and Jim Bittermann.
Jim, is the measure expected to pass today?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think it will pass easily, Carol. From what we could tell, Jacques Chirac's ruling party controls about two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly. And over the last few days, there's been three days of debate here on this piece of legislation, and over the last few days, there have been a number of compromises worked out with the opposition socialists. So a good many socialists may also vote along on this bill.
Now that's kind of a reflection of public opinion, because the public opinion polls indicate about 70 percent of the French are in favor of this law. And even in the Muslim community, among Muslim women, Muslim women favor a ban 49 percent to 43 percent. So there is a great deal of support for this ban, even though a lot of people on the sidelines say that it could lead to more problems than it will solve.
And there have been a lot of complaints from outside of France, from as far away as Malaysia, for instance, where there have been protests, and as close as the United Kingdom, where there also have been protests. Dominique de Villepin, the Foreign Minister, is on his way to India later this week. He is expecting to get an earful on this subject from the Indians about the Sikh issue, because it's not sure how this law will apply to Sikh head turbans.
So there are a lot of things that are being raised with this law that may not be easy for the French government to deal with -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And so they will vote in just about four hours, and of course you'll have the results of that vote for us then.
Jim Bittermann live from Paris this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 10, 2004 - 06:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In just about four hours, the French Assembly will vote on whether to ban headscarves in public schools, but this is -- this is about more than keeping religion out of the public schools.
Let's head live to Paris now and Jim Bittermann.
Jim, is the measure expected to pass today?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think it will pass easily, Carol. From what we could tell, Jacques Chirac's ruling party controls about two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly. And over the last few days, there's been three days of debate here on this piece of legislation, and over the last few days, there have been a number of compromises worked out with the opposition socialists. So a good many socialists may also vote along on this bill.
Now that's kind of a reflection of public opinion, because the public opinion polls indicate about 70 percent of the French are in favor of this law. And even in the Muslim community, among Muslim women, Muslim women favor a ban 49 percent to 43 percent. So there is a great deal of support for this ban, even though a lot of people on the sidelines say that it could lead to more problems than it will solve.
And there have been a lot of complaints from outside of France, from as far away as Malaysia, for instance, where there have been protests, and as close as the United Kingdom, where there also have been protests. Dominique de Villepin, the Foreign Minister, is on his way to India later this week. He is expecting to get an earful on this subject from the Indians about the Sikh issue, because it's not sure how this law will apply to Sikh head turbans.
So there are a lot of things that are being raised with this law that may not be easy for the French government to deal with -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And so they will vote in just about four hours, and of course you'll have the results of that vote for us then.
Jim Bittermann live from Paris this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
