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Show DAILY HERALD CONFLICT IN IRAN Sarkozy says Islamic burqas are not welcome in France Jamey Keaten ofall identity,” Sarkozy said to extended applause of the lawmakers gathered where French kingsonce held court “The burqais not a religious sign,it's a sign of subservi- PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy declared Monday that the Islamicburqais not welcomein France, branding ence,a signof debasement — I wanttosayit solemnly,” he the face-covering, body-length gown as a symbolof subserviencethat suppresses women's said.“It will not be welcome on the territoryof the French Republic.” identities and turns them into prisoners behinda screen Some Muslim leadersin- terpret the Quran to require that womenweara headscarf, But there was a mixed meS- sage in thetoughwords: an nigabor burqain the presence admission that the country’s long-heldprinciple of ethnic assimilation whichinsists that newcomers shed their of a manwhois nottheir husFrench President Nicolas traditionsandadapt to French Sarkozy, on Monday culture is failing becauseit doesn't give immigrants and their French-born children a fair chance nahigh-profile speech to lawmakers in the historic cha: teau at Versailles, Sarkozy said the head-to-toe Muslim body coverings werein disaccord with French values some of bandorcloserelative. Franceis home to Western Europe's largest population of Muslims,estimated at about 5 million. A small but growing burgas froma Europeanleader groupof French women wear at a time when some Western burgas and nigabs, which eiofficials have been seeking to ther cloak the entire body or easetensions with the Muslim world. “In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behindascreen, cut off the strongest language against fromall social life, deprived cover everything but the eyes. Critics fear that the issue offull-bodycoverings, which only involves a tiny minority of French Muslims,could in- KAMRAN JEBREILI/Associated Press Womenlight candles in front of a photo of Neda Agha-Soltan — whosedeath duringprotests in Iran has sparked international outrage — in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday. ‘Slain woman becomes an icon crease discrimination against Borzou Daragahi all Muslims whodisplaytheir faithin any way Dalil Boubakeur, director of the largest Paris mosque, said Sarkozy's push to keepout the burqais typical of Frenchcul ture, but worried that he might inflametensions with Muslims. Thepresident wanted to show that “the rulesof life in France andthat youcanjus bring in unjustified traditions,” Boubakeur said. But you haveto hope al @ CLEANING SOLUTION streets, Golshad,” the aunt said, “They're killing people.” Theaunt proceededto describea video,airing onexile television channels that are jammedinIran, in whicha young womanis shownbleed ing to death as her companion calls out, “Neda! Neda!” turnto the Orient “Or then completely unableto assimilate and uncom- SNS FORK Read aboutthe conflict in iran at heraldextra.com » British think-tank study casts doubtonelection “Don't gooutinto the that inshallah {Godwilling] eastern Muslimswill haveto re PROVO aN ETN called Saturdayin a panic there won't be any ill-feeling, controversiesor incidents in this confrontation betweenan Easternidea and Westernlife, Boubakeur told the AP in a telephoneinterview. eta] TEHRAN, Iran Thefirst word camefrom abroad. Anaunt in the United States fortablein a Western system. But Sarkozy also said im: migrants face economic chal lenges in France, and thegov ernment needsto do moreto help them. More on the Web Adark premonition swept over Golshad, 25, who asked that her real namenot be pub- lished. Shebegancalling the cell phone and home numbers of her friend, Neda Agha Soltan, who had gone to the chaotic demonstration with friends. Neda didn't answer At midnight, as the city continued to smolder, Golshad drove to the Agha-Soltan resi. vote-count fraudin the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The jitterycell-phonefootage of her bleeding on the | street has turned Neda into an international symbolof the results protest movementthat ignited in the aftermath of the June 12 voting. » Feared Revolutionary Guardforce threatens to crushfurther protests joy,” said Hamid Panahi, her music teacher andclose friend who was amongthe mourners wasapersonfull of at her family’s home Sunday, awaiting wordofherburial dence in the eastern Tehran Pars section of the capital. As she heardthecries and wails andpraising of God rever berating fromthe house, she knew that her worst fears weretrue “She was a beamof light. I'm so sorry. | was so hopefulfor this woman.” Security forces urged friends and family not to hold memorial services at a mosque dead Saturday near the scene and not to speak about her, said associates of the family Authorities even askedthe Agha-Soltanfamilyto take down the black mourning ban: ernment militias and demon: strators who allege rampant she has become. out, Neda! Neda!” Golshadcried “What will I do?” Agha-Soltan, 26, wasshot of clashes between pro-gov nersin front of their house, aware of the potent symbol Up to $1,000 Rebate or 16 Months No Payments when you purchase any qualifying Trane XLi system between March 30 and June 27, 2009.* While you can't control the elements outside your home, inside, the control is yours - with Trane. 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