YASMIN QURESHI MEETS 'HEADSCARF BAN' OPPONENTS
(15 March 2005)

On the first anniversary of the ban on the wearing of the Muslim headscarf in French schools, Yasmin Qureshi, the Mayor of London's human rights adviser visited Paris to meet opponents of the ban. The visit followed a new poll conducted by MORI which found that 53 percent of Londoners disagree with the ban with just 33 per cent supporting it. In the same poll 63 percent said that children should be allowed to wear clothing or items that are part of their religion, such as the Muslim headscarf, Christian cross, Jewish skullcap and Sikh turban at school. Only 26 per cent disagreed.

Ms Qureshi was in Paris to meet with faith, community, and human rights organisations as well as French local government representatives campaigning against the ban. Among the groups she visted were Collectif des Musulmans de France, United Sikhs and Ligue des droits de l’Homme.

The purpose of the visit was to understand what impact the legislation has had on community relations and human rights of faith and minority ethnic communities. She assessed whether there have been any repercussions for London or other areas in Europe as a result of the ban and will advise the Mayor on how this impacts on his work to promote freedom and equality of all religions in London. Last year the Mayor wrote to French Prime Minister Jean Pierre Rafferin to express his opposition to the French Parliament's vote on banning the Muslim headscarf and prominent religious symbols from schools in France.

Yasmin Qureshi said:’ Since the introduction of the ban in France, at least 47 girls have been dismissed from schools and hundreds have had their lives affected in other ways. It is a basic issue of human rights that individuals can observe their religion. It is essential that institutions including schools respect the right of people to wear religious and traditional dress’.

Ken Livingstone said: ‘I believe that the ban in France is a blow to good community relations throughout Europe, and will inflame tensions between communities and encourage attacks on minority communities’. In July last year the Mayor hosted Hijab: A Woman's Right to Choose, a conference at City Hall, organised by the Muslim Women Society and the Muslim Association of Britain, to launch an international and London campaign for the protection of Muslim women's right to wear the hijab.

In March 2005, a UK Appeal court judges ruled that Shabina Begum was unlawfully excluded from her school for wearing the Jilbab. Lord Justice Brooke said that Denbigh High School, in Luton, denied Shabina Begum, 16 - now at another school - the right to manifest her religion. He called for more guidance for schools on complying with the Human Rights Act.

Five Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have expressed alarm at the
rise of religiously motivated violence in many European countries, especially since September 11, 2001. MEPs Caroline Lucas, Claude Moraes, Sarah Ludford, Philip Bushill-Matthews and Alain Lipietz in a written statement expressed their “deep concern” at France’s ban on what they term as the display of ‘conspicuous religious symbols’ in schools.

The MEPs said they believe “this ban on the Christian cross, Jewish skullcap, Muslim hijab, and Sikh turban to be an infringement of human rights, in particular Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.” The Euro deputies urged the French government to rethink its ban and investigate ways of improving the opportunities for religious as well as racial minorities to integrate more fully into French society.

The MEPs called on EU Member States specifically to allow within educational and other state establishments the outward expression in a private manner of individual faith. They also called for a debate on the subject to be held in the European Parliament.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

The European Convention on Human Rights - Section 1 Article 9 states:

(I) Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

(ii) Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

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