SOS
02-11-2004, 09:25 PM
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2515987
French Bill to Ban Headscarf Brings Fear to UK
By Helen William, Local Government Correspondent, PA News
Outrage, horror and fear is sweeping through Britain’s ethnic minority communities at the thought of the French bill to ban the wearing of an Islamic headscarf.
Combined with the fall-out of the ongoing war against terrorism many feel their civil liberties and their human rights are coming under attack.
The bill, which is being voted upon in the French parliament, calls for the hijab and other “conspicuous” religious symbols to be banned in state schools.
This would include Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses but many feel it is aimed at the hijab, the Islamic headscarf.
If successful, as appears likely with the opposition Socialists throwing their weight behind the French Government, it could be imposed by the start of the next school year.
Enforcing the law is another matter.
Lawyers have claimed it is illegal. Human rights campaigners and politicians have condemned it as immoral. Then there is also the social impact of the intensively divisive measure.
Barrister Ahmad Thomson, deputy chairman of the Association of Muslim Lawyers (UK) says the French are breaching their own domestic laws.
As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, France has vowed to guarantee freedom of religion and freedom to manifest religion in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
He said: “Wearing the hijab is not a threat to anyone and does not violate anyone else’s rights and freedoms.
“Banning the hijab cannot be viewed as necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”
It is also breaches ECHR protocols stating that everyone has the right to have their children educated in accordance with their religious beliefs, he argues.
Another problem is that the bill does not specifically state what is illegal to wear to school.
The case of an 11-year-old girl of Turkish origin expelled last autumn from her school in Thann, in eastern France, for refusing to remove her headscarf underscores the kind of confusion that some fear will reign.
The girl, identified only as Hilal, is returning to class this week in another school – wearing a bandana, according to Board of Education officials in the Haut-Rhin region.
Sanctions for refusing to remove the offending item range from a warning to temporary suspension to expulsion from school.
The French Government argues the law is needed to protect France’s secular traditions and to ward off rising Islamic fundamentalism. Critics fear it play into radicals’ hands.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone warned: “President Jacques Chirac is playing a terribly, terribly dangerous game in the same way that many politicians felt they could pander to Hitler in the 20s.
“The only way to defeat Fascism in Europe is to stand against every demand they make. It is an anti-Muslim measure and will stir up anti-Muslim pressure.”
Shami Chakrabarti, director of the campaign group Liberty, said: “Injustice does not help the war against terror. Injustice breeds a sense that democracy and the rule of law has failed.”
Anaf Altikriti, president of the Muslim Association, said the French move is fuelling “concern” among Britain’s various religious faith groups.
“If anything the banning will create an underground community that are disenfranchised, isolated, angry and depressed,” he said.
“It will lead to women who do not go to school, who do not get educated and who, in 20 or 30 years’ time, will be on the sidelines and not at ease with themselves – that could only cause problems for society.”
“Europe is becoming very, very close-knit place. What is going on across the borders or across the Channel is something that will affect ethnic minority communities here.
UK far-right groups have already issued statements of “glee” about the bill, he said.
Abeer Pharaon, president of the Muslim Women Society, said: “Despite the encouraging statements we have heard from the Government, we remain extremely concerned that the rapid spread of this legislation throughout Europe might encourage extremists and Fascists to attack and insult Muslim women in the UK.”
The hijab is “our right, our freedom and our choice”, she said.
French Bill to Ban Headscarf Brings Fear to UK
By Helen William, Local Government Correspondent, PA News
Outrage, horror and fear is sweeping through Britain’s ethnic minority communities at the thought of the French bill to ban the wearing of an Islamic headscarf.
Combined with the fall-out of the ongoing war against terrorism many feel their civil liberties and their human rights are coming under attack.
The bill, which is being voted upon in the French parliament, calls for the hijab and other “conspicuous” religious symbols to be banned in state schools.
This would include Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses but many feel it is aimed at the hijab, the Islamic headscarf.
If successful, as appears likely with the opposition Socialists throwing their weight behind the French Government, it could be imposed by the start of the next school year.
Enforcing the law is another matter.
Lawyers have claimed it is illegal. Human rights campaigners and politicians have condemned it as immoral. Then there is also the social impact of the intensively divisive measure.
Barrister Ahmad Thomson, deputy chairman of the Association of Muslim Lawyers (UK) says the French are breaching their own domestic laws.
As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, France has vowed to guarantee freedom of religion and freedom to manifest religion in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
He said: “Wearing the hijab is not a threat to anyone and does not violate anyone else’s rights and freedoms.
“Banning the hijab cannot be viewed as necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals or for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others.”
It is also breaches ECHR protocols stating that everyone has the right to have their children educated in accordance with their religious beliefs, he argues.
Another problem is that the bill does not specifically state what is illegal to wear to school.
The case of an 11-year-old girl of Turkish origin expelled last autumn from her school in Thann, in eastern France, for refusing to remove her headscarf underscores the kind of confusion that some fear will reign.
The girl, identified only as Hilal, is returning to class this week in another school – wearing a bandana, according to Board of Education officials in the Haut-Rhin region.
Sanctions for refusing to remove the offending item range from a warning to temporary suspension to expulsion from school.
The French Government argues the law is needed to protect France’s secular traditions and to ward off rising Islamic fundamentalism. Critics fear it play into radicals’ hands.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone warned: “President Jacques Chirac is playing a terribly, terribly dangerous game in the same way that many politicians felt they could pander to Hitler in the 20s.
“The only way to defeat Fascism in Europe is to stand against every demand they make. It is an anti-Muslim measure and will stir up anti-Muslim pressure.”
Shami Chakrabarti, director of the campaign group Liberty, said: “Injustice does not help the war against terror. Injustice breeds a sense that democracy and the rule of law has failed.”
Anaf Altikriti, president of the Muslim Association, said the French move is fuelling “concern” among Britain’s various religious faith groups.
“If anything the banning will create an underground community that are disenfranchised, isolated, angry and depressed,” he said.
“It will lead to women who do not go to school, who do not get educated and who, in 20 or 30 years’ time, will be on the sidelines and not at ease with themselves – that could only cause problems for society.”
“Europe is becoming very, very close-knit place. What is going on across the borders or across the Channel is something that will affect ethnic minority communities here.
UK far-right groups have already issued statements of “glee” about the bill, he said.
Abeer Pharaon, president of the Muslim Women Society, said: “Despite the encouraging statements we have heard from the Government, we remain extremely concerned that the rapid spread of this legislation throughout Europe might encourage extremists and Fascists to attack and insult Muslim women in the UK.”
The hijab is “our right, our freedom and our choice”, she said.