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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not know what to think about Le Pen refusing to wear a headscarf

119 replies

Neverthelessshepersisted · 21/02/2017 18:12

Half of me is thinking "she's the national front, she's pretty nasty."
The other half if thinking she's got a point

She was due to meet the Grand Mufti of Lebanon but the meeting didn't happen because of the headscarf.

So confused.....

OP posts:
Trooperslane · 21/02/2017 18:13

Just because she's right about one thing doesn't make up for all the rest of the evil she spouts.

KellysZeros · 21/02/2017 18:13

I think it's similar to whether you'd curtsy if you met the Queen.

originalbiglymavis · 21/02/2017 18:14

Where was she meeting him? If it was in a mosque I'd think 'daft racist olf bat' if it was in an office in Paris I'd think 'daft racist feminist old bat'
.

BillSykesDog · 21/02/2017 18:16

Well if he was prepared to meet her with her politics being the way they are then he should have been prepared to meet her with or without a headscarf!

He's not making a stand against her politics, he's purely refusing to meet her because he won't meet an unscarfed woman, which is wrong no matter who it is and plays into Le Pen's politics.

PointxTaken · 21/02/2017 18:19

Michelle Obama famously did not curtsey to the Queen

Ursula von der Leyen refused to wear a hijab

Disagreeing with someone's view doesn't mean you automatically judge them negatively for every single thing. I don't know what to think, I am wondering if I would refuse to cover my head out of respect if I meet the Pope.

BillSykesDog · 21/02/2017 18:20

The Queen doesn't refuse to meet people who won't curtesy to her...

pointythings · 21/02/2017 18:20

Much as I hate to say it, on this one she is right. If Michelle Obama can meet Saudi officials without a head scarf then this guy can grow up and do the same with a Western woman.

On everything else, including the essentials of breathing and whether or not the sun is hot, she is dead wrong.

SanitysSake · 21/02/2017 18:21

French law bans headscarves for public service and for high school pupils.

Some might say that he was making a point, asking her to wear it. Some might say she was making a point by refusing to.

Either way, it is somewhat swung in his favour as she was on his 'turf'.

Doesn't exactly set the right tone for effective and inclusive diplomatic relations.

However and over and above all this. She's a divisive moron and probably couldn't give a fiddlers fart how its perceived. So 'pfft' to her.

Cel982 · 21/02/2017 18:22

She's dead right on this.

Not on anything else, obviously, but on this.

PointxTaken · 21/02/2017 18:23

The Queen doesn't refuse to meet people who won't curtesy to her..
True, but if she did, would people still refuse? I'd be more tempted to put my foot down if I had no choice frankly.

barinatxe · 21/02/2017 18:23

Le Pen is correct to hold her ground, both in terms of appealing to her supporters and, more importantly, for what is just and right. Nobody should be forced to wear certain clothes because of someone else's religious choice.

MrsDustyBusty · 21/02/2017 18:23

I suppose it's down to motivation. If she was stating that women should not cover up, good for her. If she would cover her head to meet the pope but not this fella as a calculated insult, then not do good for her.

ZippyNeedsFeeding · 21/02/2017 18:23

The report I read said it was her who cancelled the meeting. That makes a difference to me, because if she could still have gone ahead with it despite no headscarf then she's just trying to score points.
In fact, surely this kind of thing is discussed long in advance of the actual meeting, and protocols are explained or negotiated so that there is no awkwardness and the meeting can take place without being derailed by nonsense? Isn't that why politicians have aides and secretaries and that sort of people?
I don't for one moment believe this is about feminism or freedom, it's a carefully thought out part of a much longer campaign.

shins · 21/02/2017 18:25

I don't like her. But she's right about this. Did you see those Swedish politicians who ignored the request of Iranian feminist campaign group My Stealthy Freedom to not wear hijab when visiting Tehran last week? To make it worse, they jokingly reacted to critics by posting a FB pic of themselves wearing hats back in Sweden. MSF reacted angrily and the resultant backlash led to the post being removed. The politician said she was only joking. Because a law that punishes women with up to 70 lashes for not covering their hair is so hilarious Confused

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/02/2017 18:26

A stopped clock is right twice a day.

In France, I wouldn't wear one. If I was going to another country (or, for example, a cathedral in France) where it was appropriate I would follow dress code.

I'm a great fan of a more understanding protocol. Why would I wear one, that's isn't my belief? A lot of people are completely fine with that. The Mufti isn't, fine, don't meet.

shins · 21/02/2017 18:29

m.facebook.com/StealthyFreedom/

MorrisZapp · 21/02/2017 18:33

It's stopped clock time, like Trump turning back trans rights.

Paffle · 21/02/2017 18:42

On curtsying, I believe heads of state/consorts do not curtesy to the queen because they are of equal rank.

As to the headscarf, I kind of agree with Le Pen (please never make me have to say that again). If she doesn't want to cover up (and it would stick in my craw personally to have to do so) and he won't meet her without then they don't meet.

PointxTaken · 21/02/2017 18:50

I think even I wouldn't have to curtsey to the Queen, so that's good to know.

Regarding Le Pen, I am unsure. She is, not wrongly, complaining against people who do not respect the laws of the country they chose to live in, or even visit.
So this should apply to her too, when visiting another country. If you are opposed to the views of a ruling government, isn't it better to boycott to express your disagreement? We wouldn't tolerate an illegal behaviour from a visiting personality, would we?

Hotfuzzed · 21/02/2017 18:52

Broke clock is right twice a day

Original poster
Neverthelessshepersisted · 21/02/2017 19:00

Dammit, I was totally with the stopped clock idea until pointstaken piped up!

OP posts:
Boulshired · 21/02/2017 19:00

Unfortunately I could imagine her setting up the meeting knowing the requirements just so she can then publicly refuse.

MadMags · 21/02/2017 19:03

He's totally in wrong on this one.

She's still a nasty piece of work.

I would never wear a headscarf and I would never bow to a king or queen.

EurusHolmesViolin · 21/02/2017 19:14

She has boycotted, hasn't she?

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 21/02/2017 19:18

No one would be telling me what to wear.