Letter to MP

Assembly for the
Protection of Hijab
124 Harrowdene Rd, London HA0 2JF
Mobile: +44 (0) 7976737926
Fax: +44 (0) 208 357 0892
www.prohijab.net
E-mail: info@prohijab.net
--------------------------------
23 May 2004
Dear MP

In recent months, we have witnessed a dangerous phenomenon in some European countries such as France and Germany, where the authorities have commenced banning Muslim women’s Hijab (head cover) in a blatant contravention of Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In order to redress the dangerous precedent that is being set, The Muslim Women Society (MWS) and The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) have jointly organised various rallies outside the French embassy in London, as well as co-ordinating such protests around the globe on 17th January 2004.
MWS and MAB are now launching what is preliminary named as ‘Assembly for the Protection of Hijab’ in order to address this serious issue and to use all peaceful and legal means and exhaust all possible channels to protect the right of women to wear the Hijab.
Our original fears of there being a ban on Hijab escalating after the measures taken by the French government have proven well-founded, given the recent ban in 3 states in Germany and reports of a further 6 out of 16 other states in Germany putting forward similar draft laws. The situation in Belgium is even worse: 80% of schools in Brussels have already banned the Hijab even before an official law authorising such acts of religious discrimination has been promulgated. Muslim girls are permitted to attend the remaining 20% of schools but these may undergo the same procedures in the foreseeable future.
The ban on Hijab is a serious and profound concern for Muslims in Britain. We are concerned that such discriminatory legislation will have the effect of alienating our communities and hence have a deeply negative impact on us, whilst at the same time encourage racism and hostility towards Muslims and stoke the flames of intolerance and hatred.

We are sending this letter to you in order to clarify your position as to this ban and what your view would be if such a policy was proposed in Britain. We request you to support the right of Muslim women to wear the Hijab as part of our basic human rights in your various discussions and votes and to stand against the ban which in our view constitutes an unnecessary and unwarranted act of institutional state religious discrimination.
Your views on this issue are very important for Muslims in the UK who form not only an important part of the electorate, but are a key component of our multicultural and diverse society. Our concerns must be heard and the attacks on Muslim women’s right to choose to wear the Hijab features one of the main issues in our communities.

We will be organising a Hijab conference on the 12th July 2004 which will be kindly hosted by the Greater London Authority in London. On the day participants will address the ban and possible future steps to campaign against it, the conference is expected to be attended by representatives of different organisations in the UK, Europe and the Globe. We will send you official invitation to attend this conference in due course.

This Hijab campaign has the support of numerous national and international organisations including Liberty, the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR), The Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), Islamic Society of Britain (ISB), and the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK (FOSIS) to name a few, as well as a number of prominent community figures in Europe and the Globe.

We hope we can add your name to our list of supporters and look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.


Please accept our regards and appreciation.

Yours sincerely,

Abeer Pharaon (Mrs)
Chairperson of Muslim Women Society
Coordinator of ‘Assembly for the Protection of Hijab’
 

Letter to MEP

Assembly for the
Protection of Hijab
124 Harrowdene Rd, London HA0 2JF
Mobile: +44 (0) 7976737926
Fax: +44 (0) 208 357 0892
www.prohijab.net
E-mail: info@prohijab.net

Rt. Hon. *****
Address

23 May 2004

Dear .....
In recent months, we have witnessed a dangerous phenomenon in some European countries such as France and Germany, where the authorities have commenced banning Muslim women’s Hijab (head cover) in a blatant contravention of Articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In order to redress the dangerous precedent that is being set, The Muslim Women Society (MWS) and The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) have jointly organised various rallies outside the French embassy in London, as well as co-ordinating such protests around the globe on 17th January 2004.
MWS and MAB are now launching what is preliminary named as ‘Assembly for the Protection of Hijab’ in order to address this serious issue and to use all peaceful and legal means and exhaust all possible channels to protect the right of women to wear the Hijab.

Our original fears of there being a ban on Hijab escalating after the measures taken by the French government have proven well-founded, given the recent ban in 3 states in Germany and reports of a further 6 out of 16 other states in Germany putting forward similar draft laws. The situation in Belgium is even worse: 80% of schools in Brussels have already banned the Hijab even before an official law authorising such acts of religious discrimination has been promulgated. Muslim girls are permitted to attend the remaining 20% of schools but these may undergo the same procedures in the foreseeable future.
The ban on Hijab is a serious and profound concern for Muslims in Britain. We are concerned that such discriminatory legislation will have the effect of alienating our communities and hence have a deeply negative impact on us, whilst at the same time encourage racism and hostility towards Muslims and stoke the flames of intolerance and hatred.

We are sending this letter to you in order to clarify your position as to this ban and what your view would be if such a policy was proposed in Britain. We request you to support our rights in your discussions and votes in the European Parliament and to stand against the ban which in our view constitutes an unnecessary and unwarranted act of institutional state religious discrimination.
Your views on this issue are very important for Muslims in the UK who form not only an important part of the electorate, but are a key component of our multicultural and diverse society. Our concerns must be heard and the attacks on Muslim women’s right to choose to wear the Hijab features one of the main issues in our communities.

We will be organising a Hijab conference on the 12th July 2004 which will be kindly hosted by the Greater London Authority in London. On the day participants will address the ban and possible future steps to campaign against it, the conference is expected to be attended by representatives of different organisations in the UK, Europe and the Globe. We will send you official invitation to attend this conference in due course.

This Hijab campaign has the support of numerous national and international organisations including Liberty, the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR), The Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), Islamic Society of Britain (ISB), and the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK (FOSIS) to name a few, as well as a number of prominent community figures in Europe and the Globe.

We hope we can add your name to our list of supporters and to work with you to raise this issue in the European Parliament in favour of Muslim Women right to wear the Hijab.

Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Please accept our regards and appreciation.

Yours sincerely,,

Abeer Pharaon (Mrs)
Chairperson of Muslim Women Society
Coordinator of ‘Assembly for the Protection of Hijab’
 

Letter to Visitors

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Assembly for the Protection of Hijab

In recent months we have witnessed a dangerous phenomenon in countries such as France and Germany, where the authorities have commenced banning Muslim women’s Hijab in blatant contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Muslim women Society (MWS) and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) are launching what is preliminary named as ‘Assembly for the Protection of Hijab’ or (ProHijab) in order to address this serious issue and to use all peaceful and legal means to protect the right of any woman to wear Hijab. Please find attached a document detailing the aims and vision of Pro-Hijab.
 

This Hijab campaign has the support of numerous national and international organisations including Liberty, the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR), The Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), Islamic Society of Britain (ISB), and the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK (FOSIS) to name a few, as well as a number of prominent community figures in Europe and the Globe.
ProHijab is going to be launched in a conference to be held on 12th July 2004 and kindly hosted by the Greater London Authority. Speakers and participants from all around Europe and the Globe are invited and expected to come.
 

We are delighted to invite your organisation to join Pro-Hijab and to attend the conference in July, so that unified campaigning for the protection of Hijab can commence.

Please find attached a Joining form to become a member of Pro-Hijab and a Registration form to attend the conference in July.

We hope you will join Pro-Hijab to help defend women’s rights, please fill in the attached forms. There is no cost for joining the campaign, however, donations are welcomed.

If you have any queries or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,


Abeer Pharaon (Mrs)
Chair, Muslim Women Society
Coordinator, Assembly for the Protection of Hijab