The ascension of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem to France's women's rights ministry was greeted with hope and optimism among the Muslim population in the country, hoping the appointment would be a signal that Muslim women's rights would be upheld and a ban on the niqab would be reversed. Instead, Belkacem has said she wants to focus on ending the sex trade industry as her top priority in office. Under President Nicolas Sarkozy, France passed the niqab ban in public, citing security and terrorism. Largely supported by the French, which see the encroachment of Muslims in society – which make up between five and 10 percent of the population – as a threat to “Frenchness.” But women were hopeful that a Muslim woman such as Vallaud-Belkacem would help change years of mistrust and anti-Islamic sentiment. The country had, in 2004, banned the hijab – or hair-covering – from public schools. Under Sarkozy, the full-face covering, or niqab, was subsequently banished from the country's streets, and recently Saudi women have been deported from the country as a result of arriving with the face covering. “[People] think the ban is official authorization to insult, spit at and even physically assault,” said Salima Kader, a Parisian women who continues to wear a veil, in comments published by Global Post. “The ban has become a symbol of hate against all Muslim communities.” International human rights groups have lashed out at the French government's decision to ban the niqab, saying it is an infringement on a woman's right to choose what she wants to wear. Proponents of the ban argue the niqab is already an anti-women's rights garb and women are forced to wear the covering by their male relatives or husband. “Under international human rights law everyone has the rights to freedom of expression and freedom to manifest their religion or beliefs; these freedoms extend to the way in which people choose to dress,” said a statement from the London-based rights organization. The ban came into effect on April 11, 2011, and has angered Muslim groups in the country and in Europe, who argue it is directed at Muslims in particular. Still, women are frustrated that the new minister is focusing her efforts against sex workers instead of a minority community that largely supported the election of Francois Hollande. “Many of the Muslim women I have spoken to are disappointed with the behaviour of Morocco-born Vallaud-Belkacem, one of seven children of an immigrant builder and housewife,” wrote journalist Nabila Ramdani on Tuesday in an article in the Guardian that said Muslims largely voted for Hollande, at nearly 93 percent of the demographic.
