Religious and community leaders gathered in London today to condemn moves in France to restrict the wearing of religious clothing in schools.

In a controversial move, the lower house of the French assembly today voted to back a law banning the wearing of religious symbols and clothing, such as the 'hijab' worn by Islamic women.

A massive majority of French MPs backed the law, and opinion polls have shown about 70 per cent of the public support the ban on religious clothing, which will also restrict the wearing of Jewish skullcaps, and large Christian crosses.

But it has also prompted widespread protests in France and around the world, with claims the law is an affront to religious and personal freedom.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone led calls to oppose the ban when he spoke at a special press conference at City Hall this morning.

The mayor said political, religious, and community leaders in London were united against the law banning the hijab, and praised the tolerance of different religions in London.

"The only victor from today's vote will be Le Pen and the far right," he said, referring to the growing profile of extremist politics and the far right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Abeer Pharaon, president of the Muslim Women Society, said the French law contravened basic human rights, and that Muslim women wore the hijab out of personal choice.

"We believe that banning the hijab is not a French issue and does not stop at the French borders," she said, describing moves to enact similar laws in some German states and in Holland and Belgium.

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, chairman of the Council of Muslims and Jews, said any law that curtailed the freedom of one part of society should be of concern to everyone.

Shami Chakrabati, the director of Liberty, said the law would be used to discriminate and that it would only breed the feeling that democracy was not working.

The proposed legislation will now go before the upper house of the French parliament, and could be in force for the start of the next school year.


5:29pm Tuesday 10th February 2004