Gopalan Op-Ed on French Burqa Ban Published by New York Times and International Herald Tribune

Prof. Gopalan's op-ed on the French burqa ban was published by the NY Times (Jan. 27, 2010) and the International Herald Tribune (Jan 28, 2010). Here's an excerpt:

Why the French obsession with the burqa? After all, as the French government itself has conceded, only about 1,900 women wear the full-body covering. So why are over half of the respondents in recent public opinion polls in favor of a ban on it?

The answer is simple. This is not about a fashion faux pas or women’s rights, but about sending a message to Muslims. Concerned with increasingly visible numbers of Muslims openly practicing their way of life while enjoying the privileges of life in the West, French citizens and politicians alike feel that they need to restore “Frenchness” to their streets.

The full article can be downloaded here