Hijab-shaming French minister spawns Twitter hashtag calling for her resignation

Laurence Rossignol's remarks have also led to a petition on Change.org calling for her to step down

01 Apr, 2016

France's women's rights minister Laurence Rossignol has sparked outrage with her recent statement that compared hijab-wearing Muslim women to "negroes who accepted slavery", reports the BBC.

In a TV interview on Wednesday, Rossignol was criticising fashion brands like H&M, Marks & Spencer and Dolce & Gabbana for marketing hijabs, saying that they were “promoting the confinement of women’s bodies,” France 24 reported.

When her interviewer noted that some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab, she responded, "Of course there are women who choose it. There were American negroes who were in favor of slavery.”

Since then, there have been calls for her resignation, with a Change.org petition that has amassed over 26,000 signatures and the #RossignolDemission hashtag trending on Twitter.

Some slammed her for sexism:

Others slammed her for racism:

One guy noted she's guilty of both:

Another pointed out that's singling Muslim women out:

French politicians appear to have a track record of doing this:

Comments

Shaukat Ali Khan Apr 01, 2016 01:16pm

Unlimited "Freedom of Expression'" is a curse.

Recommend

why so Serious? Apr 01, 2016 03:16pm

HER CHOICE

Muhammad Apr 01, 2016 03:28pm

I personally think that there is no harm in hijab. But most of the supporters of hijab also think that women should sit at home which is equivalent to wasting 3.5 billions human resource on earth.

Farhan Ahmed Apr 01, 2016 05:04pm

they must gives the one good reason that how the hijab resist the women for progress

Khwarezmi Apr 01, 2016 05:08pm

My experiance of living 36 years in Europe is, among many other, that the french are the most anti-Muslim . I am 100% against terrorism, no matter where, but the french deliberately provoked extremists with their cartoons (which were hurtful to the core) which led to the Paris attacks and with it made the lives of Muslims even more difficult. So many hatecrimes, including bombs against mosques, went unreported by the french and world media after the attacks.

Iqbal Malik Apr 01, 2016 05:15pm

@Muhammad do you think sit home is no job? Actually it is not, if you get a chance take off for one day and observe their work at home (cooking, cleaning, laundry and on top taking care of our Parents and children). You will be amazed to see their work load.

Imtiaz Siddique Apr 01, 2016 05:31pm

@Muhammad... Sir, with all due respect, you should as well as what @ Iqbal Malik has suggested also let your wife have a complete day of rest and you should do all the chores that she has to do like cooking, cleaning, washing, looking after the children and doing everything for you.. Then perhaps you will get an understanding of whether a woman at home is wasting valuable time.

Hashim Malik Apr 01, 2016 05:44pm

Not a proponent of hijab but I can not digest France's ministers aversion to it.

Aiyma Alvi Apr 01, 2016 05:51pm

Extremism is always wrong. Moderates should stand united against extremism

touqeer Apr 01, 2016 07:42pm

human beings are known by their chracter not by their clothes

khan Apr 01, 2016 08:45pm

Minister for women rights fighting against women rights ? What to wear and what not to wear is all Her decidion . Trust them and let them choose and decide !

MD Apr 01, 2016 11:21pm

why most of the women faces in the photo do not look like french ?

shakatiman Apr 02, 2016 12:49am

Some people do have courage to call a spade a spade She is absolutely right

Califa Apr 02, 2016 07:15am

@Imtiaz Siddique its not a choice for most though

deven Apr 02, 2016 02:39pm

France is paying now through it's nose for the liberal mistakes it made during last two decades.