French pass Islamic headscarves ban

PARIS -- A law banning Islamic headscarves in France's public schools was adopted Wednesday in the Senate by a vote of 276-20.\nThe vote mirrored similar overwhelming support by the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, which passed it 494-36 Feb. 10.\nPresident Jacques Chirac must now formally sign it into law within 15 days. He had said such a law was needed to protect the French principle of secularism.\nThe law forbids religious apparel and signs that "conspicuously show" a student's religious affiliation. Jewish yarmelke and large Christian crosses would also be banned, but the law is aimed at removing Islamic headscarves from classrooms.\nThe measure is to take effect with the start of the new school year in September.\nThe Senate, which like the lower house is controlled by conservatives such as Chirac, dismissed 23 proposed amendments raised in two days of debate. The amendments were offered mainly by the left.\nThe law is to be re-examined after a year in force to see whether "conspicuous" should be replaced by "visible."\nThe opposition Socialists had argued during the lower house debate "visible" is a less ambiguous term that would make the law easier to apply.\nThe proposal has triggered demonstrations from Muslims around the world.\nIt also drew a reaction by a man identified as a top lieutenant of Osama bin Laden. An audiotape aired Feb. 24 attributed to Ayman al-Zawahri said the French measure "is another example of the Crusader's malice, which Westerns have against Muslims."\nIn a surprise visit to the Senate earlier in the day, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said France needs to explain the planned law better, especially "on the international level."\nFrench missions abroad must "try to reassure those who are concerned," he said.\nRaffarin insisted the law was needed to contain the spread of Muslim fundamentalism and ensure the principle of secularism on which France is based remains intact.\n"We wanted to send a strong and rapid signal," he said.\nThere are an estimated 5 million Muslims in mostly Roman Catholic France -- the largest Muslim population in Western Europe.