Posted on 02/21/2005 6:53:03 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
CAIRO, February 21, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Pro-hijab activists are taking their case to the European Parliament with a written declaration that, if adopted, would ask European countries to respect the freedom of faith and dressing.
The much-anticipated Written Declaration will see the light Wednesday, February 23, in a press conference organized at the Strasbourg-based European Parliament by the London-based Assembly for the Protection of Hijab (Protect Hijab).
The event will be co-chaired by MEP Caroline Lucas and a number of her fellow MEPs.
“We are really grateful to MEP Lucas and her colleagues,” Protect Hijab’s coordinator, Abeer Pharaon, told IslamOnline.net on Monday, February 21.
The news conference will also launch a wide-ranging campaign to secure the signatures of 310 MEPs, half of the pan-Europe legislature members.
A written declaration in the European Parliament is a means for MEPs to make a political statement on a particular issue.
To become a resolution debated in the Parliament, at least half of the MEPs must sign within 3 months, otherwise the Written Declaration lapses.
The declaration basically calls for the right to wear hijab, Sikh turban, Jewish skullcap and Christian cross in state establishments such as schools.
Protect Hijab was founded in 2004 in response to a growing anti-hijab campaign worldwide.
It has the support of a number of prominent groups such as the Muslim Association of Britain, National Assembly Against Racism, the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe and the human rights group Liberty.
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.
Grateful
“Blanket national bans like the French one…fail to acknowledge individual identity and the diversity of Europe 's population,” said Ludford
Pharaon said the declaration was initially drafted by Lucas (Green Party), amended by MEP Sarah Ludford (Liberal Democrats) and was then translated into 22 languages spoken across Europe.
“If it had not been for their support and help, this declaration would have not seen the light,” she said.
Pharaon said that Ludford will later on Monday table the final draft of the declaration in the European Parliament.
“Blanket national bans like the French one instituted in the name of secularism may be well-intentioned, but they fail to acknowledge individual identity and the diversity of Europe's population. It would be unhelpful if similar action spread across the EU,” Ludford said in a statement sent to IOL.
Pharaon recalled that the draft was put to discussion in a seminar held on September 22, 2004, in London, which brought together 160 members from Muslim and non-Muslim NGOs across Europe.
“We also sent copies of this draft to a host of MEPs and rights activists in Europe.”
Pharaon added that the entire declaration was co-reviewed by Protect Hijab and other MEPs including Claude Moraes (Labour), Phillip Bushill-Matthews (Conservative) and French Alian Liptiez until they reached the final text in December.
Pharaon stressed that they were not able to get support from Jewish groups.
“They are not really affected by laws banning hijab and religious symbols in public institutions, since such laws, as far as the Jews are concerned, ban big skullcaps,” she said.
“Even the Christians didn’t demonstrate great support or set up a lobby since they are not also affected by such laws. Sikh organizations, however, have joined our campaign.”
Difficult
Asked whether there are hopes that the European Parliament would ratify this declaration, Pharaon said it is not a “mission impossible” but rather “a very difficult one”.
“In the past, 161 written declarations on different issues were presented to the parliament and only six had been adopted.
“If we mange to get 160 signatures, this will be a great achievement. But I can’t give any estimates about the expected number of signatures for the time being…Maybe one month from now,” she added.
Pharaon, nevertheless, firmly believes that where there is a will there is a way.
“Toward that end, Protect Hijab will launch letters campaign across Europe to get much-needed support from MEPs and lobby with other rights groups for the crucial coming three months,” she added.
“We met on Saturday representatives of the Federation of the Islamic Organizations in Europe, who voiced their support to our efforts to put pressure on MEPs.”
Lucas’s office will send Monday a torrent of support-emails to the entire MEPs.
“So, we put pressure on them from bottom to top,” Pharaon said.
She confirmed that Protect Hijab will hold a press conference with Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on March 15.
“This conference is aimed at supporting the written declaration, marking the French ban on hijab and announcing the Protect Hijab as an NGO.”
Binding
Pharaon said that the countries concerned, like France and Germany, must comply with the declaration, if adopted by the parliament.
“They have a duty to do it. The European Commission is obliged to discuss the declaration and provide means of implement it.”
Hijab has taken central stage in several European countries, especially after France banned it in state-run schools and public institutions.
The US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) lambasted the French move as “discriminatory”.
Ping
Ciao John,
This is a funny issue. Normally, I wouldn't care. If a woman wants to wear a kerchief that's her business. The problem, here in Europe, is the illegal coerciveness of the Muslims against their own women or even unsuspecting kaffir women entering their neighborhoods.
That's why the French banned it... because Muslimas were being harassed. Because Muslimas have no rights and must be completely subservient to men. What is hard coded in their ethos, rubs against the very grain of what is hard coded in the west.
We have cemeteries full of soldiers that died for rights that we now take for granted and which they would wish to see undone.
Another big problem is the "separateness" of their communities. If one emigrates to Italy, either he agree to become an Italian or he should leave. They have no right to make demands or to show more allegiance to the Ummah than to their host country.
The constitutions of our countries are against their religion!
That's why the French banned it... because Muslimas were being harassed. Because Muslimas have no rights and must be completely subservient to men. What is hard coded in their ethos, rubs against the very grain of what is hard coded in the west.
That's what I figured too. I've heard even that Wahhabis have paid impoverished Muslim families to force their daughter to wear the hijab to force the issue.
Glad you're here to give us the European perspective, Hudobna.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.