Perhaps, banning hijab, a headscarf that is required for Muslim women to wear to cover their hair for religious purposes, for France Muslim Women athletes did not satisfy France authority. It has now turned around to counter Christians in an exceedingly offensive way.
This is reminiscent of the former Communist regime of the Soviet Union as it banned religious practice and opposed religions throughout the country.
A drag tableau depicting Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper of Jesus Christ was presented during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Despite the apology from the Olympic organizers, the offense was committed.
Such an action should definitely be considered as an assault on the sanctity of Christianity. Since the Bible has been translated to approximately 700 languages (Christianlingua), the last supper or the final meal is one of the most known Bible stories world wide. Believably, the Olympic organizers were fully conscious about their action.
“And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.” Mark 14:18-26
Definitely, as a drag tableau depicted the Last Supper, France has betrayed Jesus and crossed the boundary to not only offend the Christians but also the Abrahamic religion’s followers.
France has taken its secular system to the extreme level with its implementation of a law banning any form of religion in public sectors. In 2004, the French national assembly voted to ban Muslim hijab, Jewish skullcaps, kippah and Christian cross to be worn in public schools.
France’s claim to implement such laws were to protect French secularism. In 2023, France Education Minister Gabriel Attal banned (Abaya) which is a long loose dress some Muslims women wear to conceal the body’s shape, in schools.
“When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them.” Attal said.
France’s opposition to religions traced back to the French Revolution in 1789. However, by 1794, all the churches were closed and religious worship was banned (History Today). The majority of French were Catholic and the Catholic Church had an immense role in the country before the revolution.
However, regardless of the pros and cons of both the Catholic Church and French Revolution in the 18th Century, today, France is waging a moderate war through secularism against all religions.
It is ironic indeed that while France seeks to ban wearing ‘religious clothes’ and the Cross in an effort to block one’s view from identifying people’s religions, they allow a drag presentation that assaults religious belief while degrading the person and story of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper!
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
– Serwan Zangana supported Operation Iraqi Freedom as a U.S Army translator before coming to the U.S from Kurdistan, Iraq in 1997 to seek political asylum. He was granted asylum status and years later proudly became a U.S citizen. He currently serves as a correction officer in Roanoke.
