|
 Assembly
for the
Protection
of Hijab
124 Harrowdene Rd, London HA0 2JF
Mobile: +44 (0) 7976737926
Fax: +44 (0) 208 3570892
www.prohijab.net
E-mail:
info@prohijab.net
Statement of Abeer Pharaon (Coordinator of Assembly for the Protection of Hijab)
to the Hijab Conference on Monday 12th July, City Hall
Bismillah Arrahman Arrahim, In the Name of Allah the Most Merciful the Most Gracious
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone
Eminent Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Dear Respected Panel
Ladies and Gentlemen
Assalamu Alaykum, Peace be Upon you all
It is my pleasure to stand in front of you today representing the Assembly for the
Protection of Hijab in this conference under the title: ‘Hijab: Woman’s Right to Choose’.
Allow me first to express our sincere thanks and appreciation on behalf of the entire
Pro-Hijab Assembly to the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and the Greater London
Authority for hosting this event as well as for their continuous invaluable support.
Religious freedom is an essential part of the peaceful co-existence of all people
and the Mayor of London has assured this during the whole of his first term,
and no doubt this will continue throughout his new term in office. We wish
you all the best and thank you Sir for allowing this conference to become a reality.
Assembly for the Protection of Hijab otherwise known as Pro-Hijab was established
in London, the shining capital of diversity and multi-culturism of people from all
faiths and no faith. Pro-Hijab was initiated by the Muslim Women Society and
the Muslim Association of Britain in response of the worrying trend being witnessed
across Europe in banning the Hijab of Muslim girls which started in France, Germany
and has since begun to spread into Belgium and other parts of Europe depriving the
right of education and the freedom of practice of their religion.
The Governments of some of these countries have claimed that they are protecting
Muslim women from being ‘forced’ into wearing the Hijab. They think we are weak and
controlled by our husbands and fathers. I assure you we are not. Muslim Women are
liberated, highly educated and eager to participate and build their societies for the
common good.
It was extremely worrying to hear of a
verdict coming from the European Court for Human Rights ruling in
favour of a ban that denies women their most basic human right and
contradicting the court’s very name. This is disturbing as it is
unjust.
On the 14th June 2004, we launched this campaign at the House of Commons.
The British government has pledged its support to this Assembly and we would like
to especially thank Ms Fiona MacTaggart MP for being present there and for confirming
that the British government will not follow the French example in banning the Hijab. We
are grateful for this and would like to send a message to Ms Fiona Mactaggart that we
hoped she was able to send the recorded message she had preciously pledged;
we added her photo to the poster in acknowledgment of her contribution to the
conference whether that was in person or via recording. We hope to have the pleasure
of her company and her continued support in the future.
Pro-Hijab welcomes Burleigh Community
College in Loughborough introducing uniform designs ranging from the
traditional blouses and trousers, to the Islamic Hijab and Jilbab. All
state schools are bound by the same health and safety regulations and
this move shows that arguments put forward for banning the Jilbab on
health and safety grounds are unfounded.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This conference is an international one
with more than 250 delegates representing 102 organisations from 15
countries; France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria,
Turkey, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, USA, Morocco, Egypt and
the UK. Among these organisations, there are 2 international, 3
European.
The aims of today are to discuss the
Hijab ban impact and its implications, to coordinate the efforts of
those who believe in the right of Muslim Women to wear the Hijab and
agree on a future plan of action of two levels: National and
International with liaison committees in different countries. We
want to preserve the right to observe our religious teachings in
practice, both in public and in private, both as a community and as
individuals. This is our right under the European Convention on Human
Rights.
As you are all aware, there has been a great deal of pressure on everyone associated with
this conference due to the invitation extended to the eminent and respected Sheikh Yusuf
Qaradawi. As Muslims, we all have great respect for the Sheikh who has always been the
voice of moderation and balance throughout the Muslim World. British right-wing press has
unfairly and inaccurately slandered and vilified him.
We stand by Shaykh Qardawi’s right to freedom of speech and to express his views,
especially since he exercises this with words of wisdom and extensive knowledge. His
courage, his balanced and moderate stands and his attempts to reconcile people of all
faiths and backgrounds are glowing examples for us all. WE are proud today to have him
with us to show his extended support to our campaign. Thank you very much Sheikh.
We would like today to focus on the issue at hand – the right to exercise our right to wear
the Hijab, which the respected Sheikh will be speaking on.
Pro-Hijab wishes to move forward as an international network of affiliated organisations
centralizing their work in protecting the right to wear the Hijab and all religious freedoms.
We have already received support from many Muslim and Non-Muslim organizations and
prominent community figures, the list of which can be found on the website. We also
received support from around the world with people from more than 36 countries having
accessed the newly established pro-hijab website in less than 3 weeks. On the political level,
a considerable number of MPs and MEPs whom we contacted have given their support to the
campaign and we will work with them in the months to come to bring about social change,
insha’Allah.
This campaign will continue until there is a real and apparent reversal in the Hijab ban
everywhere in the world.
I invite every Muslim woman in Europe and worldwide to wear her Hijab with pride and hold
her head high.
Pro-Hijab started out as a dream and will achieve its aims, judging by the number of
people in this room, it is a reality now. Insh’Allah the objectives of Pro-Hijab will also become
a reality in the days to come.
Thank you.
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