B.

Western
Gianna Rocca
Political Cartoon Strip

The French government is negatively responding to to the right of religious freedom.

For centuries, France has had an excellent reputation in the preservation of human rights.
Freedom of speech, religion, and assembly now appear to be vaporizing in that country.
Likewise, the headscarf ban violates religious freedom for muslims. However, for many
muslims wearing a headscarf is not only about religious expression, it is about religious
obligation. Due to how hijabs are an obligation for muslim religious practice, I find that
the French government is taking their proposed laws too far, especially because this law
does not demonstrate respect for religious diversity.
My Toon-Doo displays two Muslim women in France minding their own business, and
going about life like any other independent citizen. One day, a Frenchman who believes
that it is not possible to be both French and Muslim tells one of the women that her
headdress is violating the rights of religion and expression in France. The women got
upset when discussing the situation. Next, while the ladies were on their way to school
they were stopped by an officer who exclaimed that religious symbols in state schools
such as an Islamic headscarf are forbidden due to how signs and dress that conspicuously
show the religious affiliation of students is against the law. Lastly, the third pane
demonstrates that the women are sticking up for their religion, displaying that banning
headscarves and other expressions of religious belief from the schools is not the answer.