MISKOLC, Hungary: French actress
Juliette Bi**che on Friday urged Europeans to let go of their fears of immigrants and
respect the freedom of Muslim
women to wear the veil or **t as they choose.
Europe is grappling with a migration crisis that has brought more than a million mostly Muslim people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa and has highlighted problems about the integration of Muslims already in Europe.
Bi**che, who reached global stardom in films such as "Chocolat" and "The English Patient", for which she won an Academy Award, has often promoted women´s rights and spoken out in favour of freedom of expression.
Speaking at a Hungarian film festival where she will receive an award,
Bi**che told Reuters that feminism called for compassion in the migration crisis, where fear sows the seeds of more conflict.
Women should be free to wear a veil if they chose to, she said.
"I remember I went to Bosnia. I had a meeting with a Bosnian director.
she had the veil on and I asked how come you have the veil. Her husband doesn´t want her to have it.
Her children don´t want her to have it. But to her, it´s a kind of freedom to
have it,"
Bi**che said. "It´s very much for some
women a fashion (statement) and of their indication of saying. ´I want to dress the way I want, you don´t judge me and tell me what to do´. I think it´s as bad from the Western point of view to say ´don´t do this´. It´s for the
women to choose."
She said Europeans must "stop fearing these things, and
welcome people who are in big trouble..it´s our obligation to show compassion, to show we´re here to help and stop the divorce between the South and the **rth".
Bi**che, whose mother was born in Poland, said the positive
welcome immigrants received stay with them for a generation, but hatred hurts in the long run.
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