Demonstrators hold global protest against head scarf ban

CBC News ^ | 1.17.04

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PARIS - Thousands of people marched in Paris and other cities in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the United States Saturday to protest against France's decision to ban Muslim head scarves in schools.

In Paris, women marched in the middle of the procession, surrounded by men. Most wore head scarves, chanting "the veil is my choice" and "we've chosen the head scarf."

"We live in a country which is supposed to defend human rights and to practise one's religion is a human right," said Betayeba Hayet, one of the marchers.

The rally, drawing as many as 10,000 people in France, was co-ordinated as an international event, with protests being staged from London to Baghdad.

Muslim students held demonstrations in front of the French consulates and embassies in Montreal, Ottawa and a number of American cities. In Toronto, people waved placards and gathered signatures on a petition outside the French consulate.

Some mainstream Muslim groups refused to participate in Saturday's event because it was organized by a small radical group, called the Muslim Party of France.

The party is linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah, a group on Canada's list of terror organizations.

The new law, proposed for the start of the 2004-2005 school year in September, would also ban Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from state schools.

French President Jacques Chirac said the law was a response to a rise in Islamic fundamentalism.

Last month, Chirac asked the French parliament to introduce the law, following the recommendations issued by a presidential panel.

Warning that "fanaticism is gaining ground" in the country, Chirac said he also wanted to clear the way for businesses to impose similar bans.

France has the largest Muslim population in Europe – five million people.

Some see the hijab, or head scarf, as a symbol of Muslim militancy, while others view it as a mark of modesty and a symbol of their Islamic identity. Opponents to the ban call it a violation of their rights.

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[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Unicorn]

Didn't see any in Jupiter,FL.

[Yardstick]

The French love protesting in the streets.

[RoseofTexas]

Looks like the religion of Piece has the froggies by the b***s!!

[SunStar]

Thousands of people marched in Paris and other cities in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and the United States Saturday to protest against France's decision to ban Muslim head scarves in schools.

If you want to continue to be oppressed and covered-up by Islamic men, go back to Saudi Arabia!!

[Simmy2.5]

France certainly knows how to make friends...

[backtobasics]

Islam has sought, and gained the attention of the world.....but sometimes the glare of the spotlight can bring unexpected consequences.

[highlander_UW]

As usual, the press misses the real story here. If tens of thousands of muslims can be mobilized to protest for wearing cloth on one's head, and yet could not be mobilized to protest thousands of Americans being murdered in the name of Islam...then the truth is revealed that Islam is nothing more than a cult of death and the terrorists DO speak for the majority of Islam.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

France is living proof of the socialists selling out. What is a socialist. A mobster who can't carry his own water. Who is he selling out. The simple dote carrying his water. After the sale is complete, and the Islamists impose their way on the socialists, where will the socialists flee. To the nearest country with their booty where they can find more simple dotes to carry their water. America had better tighten it's immigration policy. We don't need no stinking French socialists and passive dotes. We need angry men who feel good about doing their own work. We don't need any of Bushes dotes from Mexico either.

[Aliska]

Prepare for more bloodshed. If they don't like their host countries, they should go back to the 8th century hellholes they came from.

If they have their way, they'll have us all wearing headscarves or we'll be minus a head to wear them on.

Why can't they focus on making a meaningful contribution rather than stirring up trouble?

In their own countries, they would be shot if they protested like that.

[randog]

The Muslims march to keep their hats on, the bikers march to take their helmets off.....there's just no pleasin' anyone, is there?!

[freeangel]

"fanaticism is gaining ground in the country"

What is Chirac thinking? All he has to do is fly the flag of the evil death cult Islam and these pesky protests will stop.

[cricket]

Opponents to the ban call it a violation of their rights.

"If tens of thousands of muslims can be mobilized to protest for wearing cloth on one's head, and yet could not be mobilized to protest thousands of Americans being murdered in the name of Islam..."

Agree; terrorism. . .head scarf; terrorism. . .head scarf.

Amazing what galvanized these people for a protest.

[Imal]

If head scarves were outlawed, only outlaws would have head scarves.

[highlander_UW]

If head scarves were outlawed, only outlaws would have head scarves.

That works...shoot anyone with a headscarf.

[maxwellp]

..."go back to Saudi Arabia".

Yes indeedy. Why are they in countries that don't want women covered up? Go back to wherever you came from and wear your head coverings freely. And stay there!

[henderson field]

Right. It's the culture of the French. They have a right to protect it. You may think a head scarf is trivial, but it's not. It has a lager symbolism. Instead of joining the muslims and criticizing the French, we should be protecting our own culture against cultural pollution and the imagined contributions of persons from other lands who refuse to assimilate.

[Aliska]

When I went to school, the only girls who wore stuff on their heads was because they had a disease. I don't remember any teasing, but surely they felt humiliated having to come to school like that.

[Arpege92]

Were any of these folks marching in protest when the Jews were being attacked in France? I DON'T THINK SO!