|
 Assembly
for the
Protection of
Hijab
124 Harrowdene Rd, London HA0 2JF
Tel: 0044 (0) 208 908 9109
Fax: 0044 (0) 208 908 9108
www.prohijab.net
E-mail:
info@prohijab.net
25/05/2005
PRESS
RELEASE
European Parliament
Declaration- Gaining More Support
The Written
Declaration1 on religious rights and
freedoms in France and throughout the European Union tabled on
21st February by four British MEPs and one French
MEP is gaining increasing support across Europe.
Representing
four main British Parties in Europe; MEPs Caroline Lucas
(Green), Sarah Ludford (Liberal Democrats), Claude Moraes
(Labour), Phillip Bushill-Matthews (Conservative) and Alain
Lipietz (French Green) were united by their desire to speak
out against a law that is in direct violation of the
European Convention of Human Rights2,
Article 2 protocol no.1 and Articles 8, 9, 10 and 14.
The
Declaration was endorsed by 47 MEPs representing 14 different
countries and has gained substantial support from across the
political spectrum. It has received particularly strong
support from British MEPs who constitute nearly 40% of the
signatories to date.
However, the
Written Declaration will lapse on May 21st 2005
unless at least half the current MEPs add their signatures
thereto; hence the next three weeks are crucial for canvassing
as many MEPs as possible.
Assembly
for the Protection of Hijab has worked closely with UNITED
SIKHS to send invitations to all MEPs asking them to sign the
Written Declaration. This call was supported by the Mayor of
London, Liberty, National Assembly Against Racism, Federation
of Islamic Organisations in Europe, Islamic Forum Europe,
Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Association of Britain,
Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK and Ireland,
United Against Racism, De Raad Voor en Religies te Amsterdam
and Islam On Line.
Eman Penny,
Protect Hijab’s European Affairs Officer commented:
“Muslims
in Britain and throughout Europe see no contradiction between
being good citizens and practicing faith. Supporting the
Written Declaration is an opportunity to preserve Europe’s
diversity, and therefore we call upon all MEPs to sign the
Written Declaration before the lapse date on 21st
May 2005”.
It is
imperative that we all write or call our MEPs to sign the
Written Declaration. Together we can change the discriminatory
law against freedom of religious expression.
For Further
details please contact our media department on:
Mobile:
0778 6257 120 / 0794 7787 222
Or email us
on:
wd@prohijab.net
Read Written
Declaration text on:
http://www.prohijab.net/english/projects-european-parliament-written-declaration.htm
See a copy of
MEPs and public posters on:
www.prohijab.net
View flier
on: http://www.weh.rwth-aachen.de/~dsbuxi/flyerlatest.html
_____________________________
The European
Convention of the Human Rights: Article 2 of Protocol No. 1
(right to education); Article 8 (right to respect for private
and family life); Article 9 (freedom of thought, religion and
conscience); Article 10 (freedom of expression); Article 14
(prohibition of discrimination).
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