This is Rachid Nekkaz, the French businessman who announced he will pay all fines for women who are charged with wearing the niqab — not just in France but “in whatever country in the world that bans women from doing so”.
The niqab is a filmy cloth attached to the headscarf that covers all but the eyes. Any woman found to be wearing the niqab in France in public can be fined upto €150 ($200) and ordered to attend ‘re-education classes’. Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland all have — or are planning — similar legislation.
The businessman has already paid fines for women in both France and Belgium where wearing the piece of cloth is outlawed. He said:
I’m in favour of a law to convict a husband who forces a women to wear the niqab and who forces her to stay at home. But I’m also for a law that lets these women move freely in the streets, because freedom of movement, just like any freedom, is the most fundamental thing in a democracy.
He is pictured above with Kenza Drider, the longshot “freedom candidate” for French presidency, after accompanying her to a police tribunal in Paris where she appeared for violating France’s niqab ban. Drider told The Associated Press in an interview:
When a woman wants to maintain her freedom, she must be bold. I have the ambition today to serve all women who are the object of stigmatization or social, economic or political discrimination. It is important that we show that we are here, we are French citizens and that we, as well, can bring solutions to French citizens.
Nekkaz put up a €2m ($2.5m) property to fund his campaign.
Photo credit: Getty
Ball so hard motherfuckers wanna fine me
things that are outstanding: a List
1. zikrayat’s commentary
2. fierce folks in niqab; notyourkinddear said, all on-point as usual: “I love this man for what he is doing. I do. And I hope someones take him as an example. BUT, you know, really, all the focus is on him and none on women who actually brave this world dressing as they believe, following their convictions. People just don’t even know the level of abuse that is hurled on women who wear the face veil. Just in this “thread” of reblogs, there are people saying that a woman CHOOSING to dress this way is sexist, for example. The whole point of covering is to allow us to interact in the world - not to shut us out. We merely take control of what level of interaction that is and how much of ourselves is out there. To dress like that and be out in the world is pretty brave and amazing, especially with everything stacked against us. This woman is amazing. But women don’t have to be getting into politics to be amazing in niqab.”
3. rich dudes using money for something awesome
(via dopegirlfresh)
