Projects: European Parliament Lobbying Seminar Program - Feedback Report

Report on the seminar in the European Parliament organised on 22^nd Sep 2004

The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab organised a seminar in the European Parliament on the 22^nd of Sept in conjunction with Caroline Lucas MEP of the Green Party-UK.

The seminar was attended by about 70 participants, including representatives from various organisations and young girls from Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and other countries.

Speakers included: Ibrahim Azzayyat of Germany, representing the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe; Father Hans Voking of Belgium representing the Commission of the Bishops' Conference of the  European Community; Abdullah Milcent; 15 March Committee and Liberty Committee (France); Mariem Saghrouni, a 13 year old student in Arthur Rimbaud High School in France; Claude Moraes MEP (UK); Jean Lambert MEP (UK); Sajjad Karim MEP (UK); and Alian Lipietz MEP (France).

All the speakers supported and reiterated the importance of Freedom of Religion and the right of Muslim Women to wear the Hijab out of her own choice.

Everyone in the seminar condemned the kidnapping of the two French journalists in Iraq and requested the immediate release of both of them. Everyone in the seminar believed that violence and kidnapping are unacceptable, that such methods are not the way laws can or should be changed, and that change can only be achieved through peaceful and lawful means.

Caroline Lucas MEP presented a draft written declaration and opened the discussion for editing and suggestions on the written declaration. Participants suggested adding points about the violation of children’s rights since young girls are being deprived of their right to wear the Hijab and are therefore being denied their rights as children.  Other participants suggested the need to highlight Muslim Women’s choice and right to wear or not to wear the Hijab.  More suggestions are expected in the coming months, and all of them will be studied in this three month period until the end of the year.

Caroline Lucas MEP is in the process of forming an MEP group of all those who believe in religious freedom, the group will be meeting next week to start its work.

The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab is to exert pressure on the MEPs in various countries to support and join this MEP group.

The written declaration will be presented before the European Parliament in January 2005.  A total of about 380 MEPs are needed for this declaration to be approved. The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab has to work very hard with all supporters of religious freedom throughout Europe to ensure that the necessary MEP support is secured within three months of presenting the declaration in the European Parliament.

The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab believes that this is not an easy task to do but that it is not impossible if the support is gained from the diverse range of individuals and organisations who support freedom and choice.

As a step towards achieving this aim, pro-Hijab has prepared a standard letter and enlisted all MEP e-mails on its website www.prohijab.net

Everyone is called to participate in this important campaign by simply sending the letter to the e-mails provided.

The Assembly for the Protection of Hijab is determined to bring the smile back to Mariam Saghrouni and her fellow sisters in France and everywhere. Mariam cried in her testimony, and indeed so did many others in the seminar when she described her feelings about the ban, how she was treated as a criminal in the school and how she was separated from her colleagues. You can read her testimony on the website.

MEPs who attended and supported the conference included;

• Jean Lambert, Green UK

• Alain Lipietz, Green France

• Sajjad Karim, Lib Dem UK

• Claude Moraes, Labour UK

• Pia Elda Locatelli, Socialist Italy
  
  Other Supporting MEPs include;
   

• Glyn Ford (Labour UK)

• Sarah ludford (Lib Dem UK)

• Philip Bushill-Matthews