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 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
14 February 2005
Press Release
The Assembly for the Protection of
Hijab
Written Declaration Calling for the
Right of Religious Dress- 21st February 2005
The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab
(“Protect Hijab”) was founded in 2004 in response to the growing
number of countries worldwide that were banning the Hijab. Protect
Hijab has also been working to raise awareness, and challenge
misconceptions about Hijab, gaining the support of major political
parties, and civil rights groups.
Protect Hijab has in recent months been
liaising closely with Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) to
bring forward a Written Declaration calling for the preservation of
the right for Muslim women all over Europe to wear the Hijab, as well
as the wider respect for religious rights and freedoms extending to
the Jewish scull cap, Sikh turban and Christian cross. The Written
Declaration will be presented to the European Parliament on Monday 21st
February 2004.
Protect Hijab is continuously
grateful to MEPs Caroline Lucas (Green Party), Sarah Ludford (Liberal
Democrats), Claude Moraes (Labour), Philip Bushill-Matthews
(Conservative) and Alain Lipietz for their drive behind this
initiative, without which it would not be possible.
A press conference
to mark the launch of the Written Declaration and the campaign to
collect signatures will be held in the European Parliament in
Strasbourg, on 23rd February 2005.
It is now necessary for all individuals
who support basic and fundamental freedoms and human rights to take
action, and lobby their MEPs in order to have the motions within the
Written Declaration adopted by the European Parliament. There will be
a period of 3 months from the date it is tabled for MEPs to sign. For
this to be a success, half of the MEPs in Parliament must sign, that
requires 310 MEP signatures.
We call on all MEPs and citizens of
Europe to support the Written Declaration as a show of unity against
the discriminatory legislation recently adopted by some European
governments including the French. Religious and cultural freedoms are
a foundation of European societies and it is our duty to act now in
order to preserve these ideals for the generations to come.
For further
details:
write to
info@prohijab.net
For Interview please contact our media department on
07786257120
or 07947787222
*Note
A
written declaration in the European Parliament is similar to an 'early
day motion' at Westminster, 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 text of the written
declaration is attached with this press release.
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