Khaleeji woman kicked out of Paris opera for wearing veil
A woman in niqab, a traditional Muslim veil, was asked to leave the opera in Paris after the cast said they wouldn’t perform if a solution wasn’t found.
She had to leave the auditorium, because wearing a veil covering the whole face is banned in France.
The incident happened during the performance of La Traviata at Opera Bastille in Paris on October 3, Jean-Philippe Thiellay the opera house’s deputy director, told AFP.
The fuss blew on Sunday, October 19, in French media.
The woman and her companion, tourists from one of the Gulf States, were sitting just behind the conductor and were visible to monitors.
Their seats were reportedly the most expensive in the opera, costing 231 euros ($294) each.
The woman was wearing a niqab, a veil that covers her face and hair. It only leaves the eyes and part of the forehead visible.
She was unnoticed by the opera house’s personnel when she entered the auditorium.
Thiellay said that he “was alerted in the second act by a singer," who spotted her in the front row.
"Some performers said they didn’t want to sing," if it wasn’t sorted out, he added.
They didn’t like performing for a faceless audience member, reported Metronews, citing Thiellay.
The woman and her companion were later confronted by an inspector during the interval, who asked the woman either to unveil or to leave the performance.
"The inspector told her that in France there is a ban of this nature, asked her to either uncover her face or leave the room. The man asked the woman to get up, they left," Thiellay said, adding that it was unpleasant "to ask someone to leave.”
“But there was a misunderstanding of the law and the lady either had to respect it or leave," he said.
According to a source from Opera Bastille, the couple didn’t demand compensation.
France passed a related law in 2011, effectively banning the wearing of the niqab in public.
This includes public streets, shops, museums, public transportation, and parks.
The ban applies to the burqa, a full-body covering, if it covers the face.
The only exception for a woman in a niqab and burqa is if she is travelling in a private car or worshiping.
Those who won’t remove their veils will have to pay a 150-euro ($190) fine.
The legislation, however, did not forbid the wearing of the hijab headscarf.
After the incident at the opera, France's ministry of culture said they are drawing up a new set of rules regarding veils for theatres, museums and other public institutions. [Reuters/RT]
when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just the way we respect Qatari Law while in Qatar, You respect the same law in the respective country.
their country, their rules....the GCC couple shouldn't be surprised, just as the 'comfortably dressed' women in Qatar malls shouldn't be surprised when a Qatari family starts screaming at them for being 'half dressed'.
Anything that reflects any bit of Muslim culture has now become a prick in the eyes of westerners.
i wish that our state should also announce ban on ladies who are without veils.
Why do you use the term "Khaleeji women Kicked out" in the News headline ??? Poor ladies lost EUR 231 per head as well
LL , Anyone { cruel } with upper-hand would hit & count like 20 x 7 = 100, to get more chances of hitting { cruelty } ............................. .................. Tue, 21.10.2014 , 10.25 hrs
P.S. - I am sorry but the terms in the title here "kicked out" and in other western media "Thrown out" seems very rude to me as the couple was "ASKED TO LEAVE" , they left without any arguments , even without claiming the refund of the costliet seat in the concert.
Point 1 - First of all , it is a mistake of the lady to go to a music concert as most of the Islamic Scholars have agreed that music is Haram. If you are representing Islam being a Muslim (practicing muslim) you must know that listening to the noise created by musical instruments is Haram. Listening to Muslim is undebatable where the extend of covering your head (like the whole face should be covered or only the ears , neck, hairs to covered, scholars have different opinions).
Point 2 : If they have accepted bikinis, upskirts, torn jeans in the context of "Giving Women Freedom to wear whatever she likes" , why not they accept these women wearing a veil as this is their own choice.
Security Reason - I won't agree as we live in the 21st century with all the sophisticated technology to deduct any security threats.
Social communication - Most of them say " We don't accept faceless people in our society". That is just so childish, if you don't like, leave them alone, don't socialise with them. Same like most of us don't like dress code which reveals cleavages, upskirts bikinis in public. Respecting the thoughts of these people why not they altogether ban bikinis and revealing dress code and bring a modest dress code for all..
Point No 3 - This is my opinion.