Burkini: who’s behind French hysteria?

Farhan Bukhari

Dhu al-Hijjah 29, 1437 2016-10-01

Letters To The Editor

by Farhan Bukhari (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 45, No. 8, Dhu al-Hijjah, 1437)

It has now emerged that the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is behind the burkini hysteria.

The French clearly suffer from an inferiority complex. How could a few women wearing the burkini be a threat to French society and culture unless they lack self-confidence? But there are clearly forces behind this nasty campaign. The former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is trying to make a comeback in next year’s elections, is the real villain. This putative man, the son of Hungarian immigrants, is whipping up hysteria to garner support among rightwing elements. He has achieved partial success. The debate in France has shifted to the right.

Western politicians act in the most cynical manner to garner some support among ignorant voters; add to that, racism, and you get an explosive mix. This is what Sarkozy is doing. Since Muslims are a vulnerable minority, he is whipping up hatred against them knowing full well they cannot hit back. Such petty politics will ultimately demean France further. Its stock is already quite low in the world.

Farhan Bukhari
Scarborough, ON, Canada