A cross party group of MEPs is calling
on France to reverse a controversial ban on headscarves in schools.
Five MEPs will on Wednesday launch a
“written declaration” in the European Parliament in Strasbourg urging
Paris to overturn its ban on “conspicuous religious symbols” brought
into force across French schools last year.
The deputies are arguing for the right
to wear religious symbols - from headscarves to large Christian
crosses - a ban which they say infringes European human rights.
MEPs believe “This ban on the Christian
cross, Jewish skullcap, Muslim hijab, and Sikh turban to be an
infringement of human rights, in particular Article 9 of the European
Convention on Human Rights”, reads the declaration.
"Blanket national bans like the French
one instituted in the name of secularism may be well-intentioned, but
they fail to acknowledge individual identity and the diversity of
Europe's population. It would be unhelpful if similar action spread
across the EU," said ALDE MEP Baroness Ludford.
"The whole EU is debating how to promote
integration, but as a Liberal Democrat I am clear that forced
assimilation is not the answer."
The declaration is signed by French MEP
Alain Lipietz, and his UK colleagues Caroline Lucas, Philip
Bushill-Matthews, Baroness Sarah Ludford and Claude Moraes.
It needs the backing of at least 310
MEPs within three months if it is to be put to a vote at the full
European Parliament.
Hijab Ban News -
Quick briefing - France
