Manama: A Saudi media figure has added fuel to the fiery debate about the decision by some French cities to ban the burkini on their beaches.
The decision has waded into deep controversy and sparked heated debates, mainly on social media, about its merits.
“It is only one of two options: Either boycott France economically or send one million veiled women to them as tourists every month in order to make life difficult for them [the French],” Muna Abu Sulayman posted on her Tweet account.
“Following the stripping by the French police of a veiled woman publicly, all Islamic countries should suspend their non-mandatory business and governmental dealings with France,” Muna, who describes herself as an information junkie and a strategic philanthropy adviser, tweeted to her more than 355,000 followers.
Her boycott call prompted a wide spectrum of reactions, ranging from full support to outright rejection.
“The ban on the burkini on French beaches is a racist policy that is against freedoms and the liberty slogan that the French enjoy proclaiming. It is plain racism,” Sultan aid.
Ahmad Al Toohami posted that “France has every time showed its duplicity, starting with its criminal activities in Africa to its fight against everything Islamic in France.”
Wasel approved of taking action against the new policy.
“Here we can see the bogus freedom celebrated with great fanfare by the West. The problem is that they reject freedom when it does not suit their own values.”
However, Nano, another user, opposed the boycott idea. “France has never really had a problem with the hijab,” he said. “For years, all religions have coexisted in peace.”
Peaceful said that there was no need to resist the application of the law. “We respect their laws and they respect ours,” he commented.
To the question “Suppose someone tells you that since you reject the French policy, why does Saudi Arabia impose the hijab on all women?” Muna responded that Saudi Arabia never claimed, like France, that it was “the birth place and bastion of freedom, democracy and brotherhood”.
fd3anee also called for mutual respect. “The respect of the laws of any country is mandatory for all visitors. France is free to deal with its citizens the way it deems right. The same applies to us, as well.”
