Hijab Ban In France Women's Seminar

[Amatullah]

HIJAB BAN IN FRANCE WOMEN'S SEMINAR

What should be the response of Muslim women in the UK?

In the current political climate in Europe, the Hijab is no longer a
religious symbol but a political symbol - shaking the very foundations
of Western civilisation. The extremism of secularism has reared its
ugly head in its most venomous form towards Islam and Muslims in
France by the banning of the Hijab in schools. What is our response?
Is it to call for 'personal freedom' to demand the right to wear the
headscarf or the call to conform due to necessity? This seminar wishes
to examine the incorrect response to the banning of Hijab aired by
some in the Muslim community and to present the correct response that
Muslim women should uphold in the West such that our Islamic identity
is not compromised.

Date: Sunday 25th January 2004
Time: 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Venue: Brondesbury Park Hotel, 233 Wilesden Lane, London, NW2 5RP

Nearest Tube: Willesden Green
Directions: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=523567&y=184480&z=0

WOMEN ONLY

For more details contact:

Tel: 07939 144 177
E-mail: sisters@1924.org
Website: www.1924.org

[AbuMubarak]

Hijab Protest!




Hijab Protest!

Date: 17.01.2004
Time: 11:00
Venue: French Embassy, 58 Knightsbridge, London, SW1

International Day of Protest against French Hijab Ban

The Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Women Society have jointly called for the 17th of January 2004 to be declared an International day of protest against France’s move to ban the Islamic Hijab, along with other ‘overt religious symbols’ in schools and public workplaces.

Since MAB and MWS made this call on the 20th of December in response to the request made by French Muslim schoolgirls, human rights organisations and religious and women’s groups from more than 20 countries have confirm that they will be holding pickets, vigils, demonstrations or letter-writing campaigns on the 17th of January in response to this call. Many more countries are expected to follow suit in the next few days.

MAB and MWS also join the countless voices from scholars and academics from all over the world rejecting the French Government’s labelling of Hijab as a religious ‘symbol’. Hijab is part of a Muslim woman’s faith and constitutes a functional aspect of her religion.

There can be no doubt that such laws represent a gross breach of human rights and a contravention of the notions of secularism which uphold personal freedoms and liberties, including the right to religious _expression and worship. Muslims now face the threat of such draconian laws being adopted in other European countries, including Germany. This must not be allowed to happen.

MAB and MWS wish to announce that arrangements have been made with the London Metropolitan Police and all necessary preparations to cater for a large but peaceful protest comprising of Muslims and non-Muslims and including representatives of various groups and organisations on the 17th of January.

The French Government must realise that it has made a huge mistake by forbidding Muslim students and employees from wearing as they wish and as their religious stipulates.

London
Date: 17.01.2004
Time: 11:00
Venue: French Embassy, 58 Knightsbridge, London, SW1

Scotland
Date: 17.01.2004
Time: 11:00
Venue: French Consulate-General, 11 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7TT

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRTUAL PROTEST
PROTEST THE BAN ON HIJAB IN FRENCH SCHOOLS!


In light of President Jacques Chirac's decision to endorse a law banning
religious insignia from French public schools, including hijab,
MSA-National is calling upon Muslims in the U.S and Canada to defend the
rights of our French Muslim sisters to wear hijab in schools. The Muslim
ummah is like one body; if a part of it ails, then the whole body ails.

Please call, fax and email the French embassies of your country,
protesting this decision. Again, please be firm, but polite. This should
not become a harassing campaign.

E-mail President Chirac: http://www.elysee.fr/ang/ecrire/mail.htm


TALKING POINTS:
. While this law claims to equally target all religious insignia, it
will have a disparate impact on Muslim students who wear hijab. Unlike
Christian and Jewish students, Muslim girls are being forced to
compromise a religious obligation NOT a symbol. Therefore, Muslim girls
who choose to be religiously observant will be denied the choice and
freedom to attend French schools.

. The disparate impact that the ban will have on Muslim girls is a
violation of Article I of the French Constitution, which ensures "the
equality of all citizens before law, without distinction of origin, race
or religion."

. The practice of hijab is not a violation of secularism. Wearing hijab
is a private and individual choice that bears no imposition on others.
This law abuses 'secularism' to repress the private practice of
religion.

. The French ban on hijab is a violation of international law: In 1974,
France ratified the European Convention on Human Rights, which states
that everyone has the "freedom to.manifest his religion or belief, in
worship, teaching, practice and observance."

. The mass expulsion of Muslim girls with headscarves from school will
dangerously foster radicalism and isolation among a minority that France
should seek to integrate into society. The French ban on hijab is an
obstacle to Muslim integration in France.

. Rather than address the real problems of xenophobia, racism and
discrimination in France, the French government is simply exacerbating
such social ills by expelling Muslim girls from school, rather than
seizing the opportunity to educate, incorporate and encourage religious
tolerance in French schools.
(http://www.msa-national.org)

[AbuMubarak]

Protests, marches for hijab on Sat.




Protest french ban on hijab, help needed!

by concerned activist Monday January 12, 2004 at 06:02 AM
ull_girl@yahoo.com

http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2004/01/25494.php
http://msa-national.org/media/actionalerts/hijabban.html

The French have banned the wearing of religious symbolism in
schools, this includes hijab and this is not acceptable!!!!!!!

CALLING ALL MUSLIMS...........its time to wake up fellow
Muslims.......we need to take a stand!!! our sisters are being
degraded and forced to disobey Their religious obligations. We
ignored what is going on in turkey where women are sometimes totured
for wearing hijab, and now it has crossed the sea and France has now
banned Hijab. even our own Islamic country, EGYPT, banned hijab on
television. IT HAS BEEN LONG ENOUGH!!!!! WE NEED TO RISE TOGETHER
AND DEFEND THESE SISTERS!!!!

I am calling all Muslims, male and female, to stand and resist, let
your voice be heard, and all concerned people who think that freedom
of expressiona nd religion are things worth fighting for, calling
all radicals and concerned activists.......

The Muslim Student Association national office has issued an
international day of protest against the French ban on Hijab.
January 17th at 11 am til 2pm
@ the French Consulate 777 post oak blvd, Houston Texas.
anyone willing to help is more than welcome, we need signs banners
and ideas. ....

any drummers out there want to lend us yoru services please do
so.............

Id love to see a couple of imams or sheiks present.........
lets wake up from our slumber..............
please email me Aminah ull_girl@yahoo.com

please refer to these sites to learn more about this topic
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-12/30/article09.shtml
see what our Islamic "scholar" has to say about Hijab, and we wonder
why we are suffering.....by the way it is never acceptable for a
woman to take off her hijab at request of government or of anyone,
it is a religious obligation and commandment, and doesnt relate to
geographical location.....
http://www.mwlusa.org/news/french_ban_hijab.htm
-0-------
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/711DA539-898A-43E2-9F3D-
85DF43B624CD.htm
------------------
http://www.lebanonwire.com/0312/03122215DS.asp
--------------------------------
http://www.1924.org/hijab/
---------------------------------
http://www.msa-national.org
--------------
http://www.cair-florida.org/ViewArticle.asp?Code=AA&ArticleID=170
------------------------
http://www.icna.com/
------------------------------------------

http://www.geocities.com/ull_girl

http://www.albalagh.net/current_affairs/0032.shtml

Assalamu'alaikum,

Below is the updated info on the Rallies Locations and Times. As well
there is Information about the Virtual Protest. We encourage all
students to participate in both of these efforts.

Wa'alaikum assalam,
Muslim Students Association of the US and Canada

------------------------------------------------------

Atlanta Coordinator -- Sofia Chaudhary, 678-687-0488
Time: Sat, 1/17, 11-2.
Location: Meeting at 10:30 am at Buckhead Station (corner of Lenox
and
Piedmont Road) and marching to the French consulate (short distance
away)
Address: Consulate of France, 3475 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 1840;
Atlanta, GA
Participants: Emory MSA, AL delegation, Georgia Tech MSA, GA State
MSA

Chicago Coordinator - Manal El-Hrisse, 708-655-1738
Time: Sat, 1/17, 2-4

Houston Coordinator - Aminah, 713-526-4000
Time: Sat, 1/17, 11-2
Location: French consulate
Address: 777 Post Oak Blvd
Co-Sponsors: University of Houston MSA, CAIR-Houston, Rice
University
MSA,University of St. Thomas MSA, ADC, Torch (Jewish peace
organization)

Los Angeles Coordinator - Mohammad Mertban, 310 351 2732
Time: Sat, 1/17, 12-2. Peak at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Federal Building
Address:
Co-Sponsors: CAIR, MPAC, MAS, interfaith groups.

New York Coordinator - call 718-739-7300 OR 718-658-1199
Time: Sat, 1/17, 12-3
Location: in front of the UN
Address:
Co-Sponsors: CAIR, MAS, Women in Islam, All NY Mosques/ Islamic
Centers

San Francisco Coordinator - Basim ElKarra, 415 407 6925 /Nadia Aziz
408-832-0741
Time: Sat, 1/17, 11 am convene, 11:30 beign
Location: March from the City Hall to the French consulate

Washington DC Coordinator - Ismail Kamal, 431-1505
Time: Saturday, 11-2
Location: across from the French consulate
Address: 4101 Reservoir Road
Co-Sponsors: DC Council of MSA,CAIR- MD, Mustafa Center, Dar Al
Hijrah,ADAMS, SISTERS, MAS Freedom Foundation, North American
Council of
Muslim Women, Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force, Solidarity
USA/Solidarity International, International ANSWER, United Sikhs

Ottawa Coordinator -Hadeel Al-Shalchi, 613-262-6619
Time: Sat, 1/17, 1-2 pm
Location: French embassy
Address: 42 Sussex Dr
Co-Sponsors: MSAs of Calreton and Univ of Ottawa,Ottawa Muslim
Association (OMA), Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), Global Peace
Coalition (GPC), University of Ottawa and Carleton University
KAIROS,
Ontario Public Interest Research Group OPIRG), Islamic Information
Centre, Ottawa Raging Grannies, International Socialists Group

Montreal Coordinator - Sameer Zubeiri, 514-814-0812
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: French Consulate
Address: 1 Place Ville Marie (corner University, Rene Levesque)
Co-Sponsors: UMSA

Toronto Coordinator - Naila Kibria [nailakibria@hotmail.com]
Time: Sat, 1/17, 1 pm start
Location: French consulate in Toronto

----------------------------------------------------------

VIRTUAL PROTEST
PROTEST THE BAN ON HIJAB IN FRENCH SCHOOLS!

In light of President Jacques Chirac's decision to endorse a law
banning
religious insignia from French public schools, including hijab,
MSA-National is calling upon Muslims in the U.S and Canada to defend
the
rights of our French Muslim sisters to wear hijab in schools. The
Muslim
ummah is like one body; if a part of it ails, then the whole body
ails.

Please call, fax and email the French embassies of North America,
protesting this decision. Again, please be firm, but polite. This
should
not become a harassing campaign.

In the U.S., contact the Embassy of France in the United States,
Telephone (202) 944-6000, Fax (202) 944-6166 or send a comment via

http://www.info-france-usa.org/comment.asp

In Canada, contact the Embassy of France in Canada, Telephone (613)
789-1795, Fax (613) 562-3704 or send a comment via
http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/index2nd.asp?page=questions

TALKING POINTS:

. While this law claims to equally target all religious insignia, it
will have a disparate impact on Muslim students who wear hijab.
Unlike
Christian and Jewish students, Muslim girls are being forced to
compromise a religious obligation NOT a symbol. Therefore, Muslim
girls
who choose to be religiously observant will be denied the choice and
freedom to attend French schools.

. The disparate impact that the ban will have on Muslim girls is a
violation of Article I of the French Constitution, which ensures "the
equality of all citizens before law, without distinction of origin,
race
or religion."

. The practice of hijab is not a violation of secularism. Wearing
hijab
is a private and individual choice that bears no imposition on
others.
This law abuses 'secularism' to repress the private practice of
religion.

. The French ban on hijab is a violation of international law: In
1974,
France ratified the European Convention on Human Rights, which states
that everyone has the "freedom to.manifest his religion or belief, in
worship, teaching, practice and observance."

. The mass expulsion of Muslim girls with headscarves from school
will
dangerously foster radicalism and isolation among a minority that
France
should seek to integrate into society. The French ban on hijab is an
obstacle to Muslim integration in France.

. Rather than address the real problems of xenophobia, racism and
discrimination in France, the French government is simply
exacerbating
such social ills by expelling Muslim girls from school, rather than
seizing the opportunity to educate, incorporate and encourage
religious
tolerance in French schools.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Muslim Students Association of the US and Canada
http://www.msa-national.org
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a post only list from the MSA of the US and Canada.




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"The greatest weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the
oppressed." - South African activist & martyr, Stephen Biko

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"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because
I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I
did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came
for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then
they came for me...and there was no one left to speak for me." -
Pastor Martin Niemoller, regarding the Nazi reign.

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