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GREEN EURO-MP TO ADDRESS ‘PRO-HIJAB’ CONFERENCE

CAROLINE LUCAS TO ATTEND ‘HIJAB UNVEILED – A DAY OF REFLECTION’

 

NEWS RELEASE
From the office of the Green MEPs


August 31st, 2005

 

Photocall… Media Invitation… Photocall… Media Invitation …

GREEN EURO-MP TO ADDRESS ‘PRO-HIJAB’ CONFERENCE

CAROLINE LUCAS TO ATTEND ‘HIJAB UNVEILED – A DAY OF REFLECTION’

Event: Euro-MP Caroline Lucas to address ‘Hijab Unveiled’ conference

Place: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton St, LONDON W8 7NX
Time: Saturday, September 3rd, 3.30pm (Conference runs 11am-4pm)

FRANCE’S ban on Muslim women and girls wearing the traditional ‘Hijab’ veil violates the human rights to free expression and freedom of religion, Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas will tell a London conference on Saturday.

Speaking at the ‘Hijab Unveiled – A Day of Reflection’ conference organised by the UK-based ‘Pro-Hijab’ campaign, Dr Lucas will call for the EU to intervene to prevent the spread of the law and overturn the breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, of which France is a signatory.

The South-East England MEP will argue: “The Hijab ban is a direct affront to Muslim communities. Women and girls who have freely chosen to wear Hijab as an essential part of their Islamic beliefs and lifestyle should not be forced to endure a directive likely to heighten religious and ethnic discrimination.

“To ban ‘conspicuous religious symbols’ from public buildings is knee-jerk reaction which panders to the racist right and will only serve to increase tensions between Muslims and the state – exactly the opposite of the law’s stated intention.”

Dr Lucas was one of five British and French MEPs who sponsored a resolution in the European Parliament condemning the law earlier this year. She has worked closely with UK campaigners since the ban came into force nearly a year ago, and is due to speak alongside journalist Yvonne Ridley and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

Other speakers include Raghad Altikriti and Anas Altikriti of the Muslim Association of Britain, and the event also boasts performances from Dawud Wharnsby, Ali Hassen Rasool and Mizan School.

ENDS

For more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 or
ben@greenmeps.org.uk
www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
 

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