My NY Times/IHT Op-Ed on French Burqa Ban

The NY Times & the International Herald Tribune published my op-ed on the French burqa ban today. Here's an excerpt:
Why the French obsession with the burqa? After all, as the French government itself has conceded, only about 1,900 women wear the full-body covering. So why are over half of the respondents in recent public opinion polls in favor of a ban on it?
The answer is simple. This is not about a fashion faux pas or women’s rights, but about sending a message to Muslims. Concerned with increasingly visible numbers of Muslims openly practicing their way of life while enjoying the privileges of life in the West, French citizens and politicians alike feel that they need to restore “Frenchness” to their streets.

You can read the full article by clicking on this link.