tagged w/ Laïcité
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Faiza Silmi, 32, moved to France from Morocco in 2000 after marrying her French husband Karim, who is of Moroccan descent. French law allows non-native spouses of French nationals to acquire citizenship two years after marriage and in 2004, Faiza petitioned for nationality. She didn’t give it a second thought; it seemed only natural that her request would be granted. After all, she was married to a Frenchman, spoke perfect French and had already given birth to French children. Besides, her brothers and sister, who also lived in France, had obtained French nationality with no problem.
However in 2005, the government denied her petition. In disbelief, the family appealed to the Conseil d’Etat (the Council of State – a judicial body that has final say on disputes between individuals and the public administration), which three years and many interviews later confirmed the ruling on June 27, which was then disclosed by a report in French daily Le Monde. According to the report, Silmi had “adopted a radical practice of her religion, incompatible with the essential values of the French community, and particularly with the principle of sexual equality”.
Faiza says that had she known her petition would create such uproar she would never have appealed.
“I mean, it’s just a bit of paper. We live our lives and we are very peaceful people. We didn’t want this fuss.”
But what was most upsetting to the couple were the lies printed about them in the French press.
“We don’t know where the lies originated – whether they were in the original report or whether it’s all been manipulated in the press. They made so many errors – they said I had three children. I have four. They said I was treated by a male gynecologist – as if that had any importance. I wasn’t. I was treated by a female gynecologist. Like lots of women, I prefer to consult a woman. But the last time I went into hospital to give birth I was attended to by a male doctor. I didn’t care. I’m not going to put my baby’s life at risk.”
More damaging for Silmi, however, were what she claims to be the inaccuracies compiled in the formal report by Emmanuelle Prada-Bordenave, based on interviews carried out with Faiza by the social services and submitted to the Conseil d’Etat.
“She has no idea about the secular state or the right to vote. She lives in total submission to her male relatives. She seems to find this normal and the idea of challenging it has never crossed her mind,” stated the report. It added that Faiza did not wear the burqa when she lived in Morocco, but adopted it at her husband’s request. She wore the veil out of habit, rather than conviction.
“She lives virtually as a recluse, disconnected from French society,” continued the report. “She has no concept of laïcité (the secular state) nor the right to vote. She lives in total subservience to the men in her family.”
Her husband says she was very depressed after she learned about the decision and realized the consequences it held. But today she is indignant.
Faiza Silmi, 32, moved to France from Morocco in 2000 after marrying her French... more
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