Lagen som ett politiskt verktyg för att skydda den nationella identiteten - En retorisk argumentationsanalys av lagen mot heltäckande slöja i Frankrike

Sammanfattning: The primary concern of this study is to examine the factors behind the debate around the face veil in France. This raises two questions on how the arguments can legally be justified and which affect the law has in a multicultural society like France. This study represents an investigation into the problem of the ban on the face veil in France 2011, but also an attempt to test the logic of the arguments based on legal grounds. The law from 2011 was supported by the French National Assemblies special committee who discussed the impact of the face veil with republican values. The arguments used in the debate have focused on liberal values, like gender equality and individual freedom. Yet this new law engages rights that are protected under international human rights law like the right to religious freedom, the freedom of expression, cultural identity and non discrimination. By using a rhetorical analysis of arguments, one can note that the political debate has been shaped by the social environment in which opinions, attitudes and emotions have played a major role. The debate was meant to focus on the veils impact on the secular society in France; however, the debate also illustrates a wish from French politicians to put immigration from muslim countries on restriction by making the assimilation requirement of French citizenship much stricter. By realizing the law, the reality of many muslims living in France became more obvious, a country whose fundamental values are based on freedom regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or gender.