When I read the title of this Guardian column by Yasmin Ataullah, I was immediately upset. Not that I do that lightly, you understand...
However when i started reading, I got even more outraged, which lead me to writing my first letter to a columnist. which was thus:

Dear Yasmin,

thank you for explaining your postion in todays Guardian which I read with great interest.  There is one thing I am not able to understand however.  Why are you talking about the French government forbidding the wearing of the hijab in general terms, when it is only referring to very specific cases. Nobody forbids anybody to wear the hijab in their everyday life. It is only when you enter a state building attending your education that you are not allowed to show any symbols of your religion - everybody is treated the same here.

I understand that the hijab is a powerful symbol, that can show that you belong to a group, reveals that you are part of a tradition to which you have every right to be proud of.  But it is also revealing to see that you say, it was your choice. Of course it is about choice and I am all for your choice to wear the hijab and I would always stand up to defend your right for your choice.  Sometimes there are circumstances were we do not have choice and the question is, who makes the decision about our freedom. In France, the french government makes the choice. They can be voted out.

Being forced to wear a hijab in my eyes, is more suppressive than being forced to not wear one in certain circumstances.  Your choice has to be to say Yes, not to have to fight for your No.  And the discussion about the hijab is a fight about the right to say No to having to wear it, because there are women that see the hijab as a symbol of suppression. Even if you personally don't see it that way, and might not understand these woman. I am sure you can agree, there are Muslim women, that feel suppressed by having to wear the hijab.

The law is blind to everybody and in a secular society, which the French is more so than the English (and I am saying this as a German, where we have a similar, but slightly different discussion) the state has the right to say No on your behalf.  It is the strength of the state, that gives you the space to get out of your tradition and learn about others, that is what education, in a liberal, secular society is about.  And it is this strenght that also allows you to embrace what ever religious tradition you choose as right for you. Of course differences are important, they can be celebrated and they have to be discussed, but for me this law is not an afront against you as individual Muslim, it does not take away your right to be a Muslim. Instead it gives women a choice, they might not get otherwise.

You have the right to say Yes, but not everybody is given this freedom.  I see the French law as enabeling people to learn to say Yes to Islam, not as a supression of your individual freedom. 

Sorry for my rant.

And I wish you peace on your way.

Signed with name

I got a reply, well, it sounded automated. So no dialogue here. I am sorry.