Students to attend Hijab........

[amma]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, Assalamu Alaikum. FOSIS is pleased to present an Action Alert.

FOSIS CALLS ALL STUDENTS TO ATTEND HIJAB PICKET ON SAT 17th JAN 2004.

FOSIS HAS PUT ITS FULL SUPPORT BEHIND ACTIONS TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY IN DEFENCE OF THE HIJAB:

The actions are part of the International Day of Protest against France’s move to ban “overt religious symbols” in schools and public workplaces as initiated by the Muslim Association of Britain & Muslim Women’s Society, and backed by great many organisations, Muslim and non-Muslim inside and outside the UK. The picket will take place in front of the French Embassy in London from 11am and in Edinburgh from 12pm.

We must all be alarmed at the gross violation of human rights and liberties being proposed, and act to stop it from happening in France and from spreading beyond its borders.

The French Government must recognise that it will make a huge mistake by forbidding Muslim students and employees from dressing in line with religious requirements. As Muslims have repeatedly emphasised, the Hijab is not a symbol, but rather a function of modesty in line with Islamic obligations.

The only way to make a change now is to stand up in solidarity with our French sisters and others in France and worldwide who face similar trials. We must defend freedom of religious expression. And as well as this short-term action, we must work to build understanding of our way of life among people of this society.

................................................................................................................................................

WE URGE YOU TO JOIN THE ACTIONS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO ATTEND.

................................................................................................................................................

Saturday 17th January 2004:

London

11am-2pm

French Embassy,

58 Knightsbridge,

London, SW1

(Nearest tube station Knightsbridge, Piccadilly line)

Edinburgh

12pm-2pm

French Consulate General,

11 Randolph Crescent,

Edinburgh, EH3 7TT

F.O.S.I.S.

The Federation of Students Islamic Societies In the UK & Eire.

For more information contact us:

Tel: (0)20 8452 4493

Fax: (0)20 8208 4161

E-mail: info@fosis.org.uk

WWW: http://www.fosis.org.uk/

[SisterJennifer]

Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) met yesterday with French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte to deliver a letter for French President Jacques Chirac opposing his call to ban Islamic head scarves, or hijab, in public schools.

CAIR's letter read in part:

"Unlike a cross, which is not an obligation for Christians to wear, hijabs, yarmulkes and turbans are not "symbols" that can be removed without abandoning religious responsibilities. Rather, hijab is a religious obligation and for many French women, any ban on a woman's right to freely exercise her faith by wearing hijab may be seen as an indirect prohibition on Islam in France...

The European Convention on Human Rights, a hallmark treaty for the protection of human rights in Europe, states that '...Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion....' The convention continues to say that, 'this right includes, [whether] alone or in a community with others and in public or private...freedom to...manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.' Unfortunately, it seems as though the proposed legislation would be in violation of the Convention as well...

We hope that you will reconsider the proposed legislation, in light of the concerns enumerated above and with a continued goal of strengthening the ideals of democracy, religious freedom, and interfaith harmony in France and around the world."

"Our meeting with the Ambassador was frank and constructive," said Nihad Awad, CAIR executive director. "It marked the beginning of what we hope to be an on-going dialogue with France."

The 90-minute meeting took place at the French embassy in Washington, D.C. Attendees included CAIR officials and a representative from the Muslim Student Association of the United States and Canada (MSA).

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

[Muslimah]

as salam alykom

Jazaki Allah khairan Jennifer for sharing this, Alhamdulelah

[phatmonky]

<i>Originally posted by SisterJennifer </i><b></b>

\"Unlike a cross, which is not an obligation for Christians to wear, hijabs, yarmulkes and turbans are not \"symbols\" that can be removed without abandoning religious responsibilities. Rather, hijab is a religious obligation and for many French women, any ban on a woman's right to freely exercise her faith by wearing hijab may be seen as an indirect prohibition on Islam in France...  

This argument is so tired! It doesn't matter that the cross is not a religious obligation. The fact that it isn't, stands to reason that those who wish to wear them could very well feel stronger about them than some muslims and their hijab(who wear it my requirement). It's quite assumptive of this author to lower the importance of a cross on someone's neck. And frankly, after seeing this same sort of posting on this site, it's a bit offensive.

When are the islamic represenatives going to stand up for christianity as well? Or is this only to draw light that it's a "prohibition on islam", not a prohibition on all religions?

[Muslimah]

<i>Originally posted by phatmonky </i><b>. And frankly, after seeing this same sort of posting on this site, it's a bit offensive.</b>

When are the islamic represenatives going to stand up for christianity as well? Or is this only to draw light that it's a \"prohibition on islam\", not a prohibition on all religions?

I dont think I quite understood :confused:

what is offensive and why would u expect Islamic rep. to stand for Christianity as well

BTW, I pmed u regarding your location sometime back but it seems that u dont check pms.

[phatmonky]

<i>Originally posted by Muslimah </i><b>I dont think I quite understood :confused:  </b>

what is offensive and why would u expect Islamic rep. to stand for Christianity as well

BTW, I pmed u regarding your location sometime back but it seems that u dont check pms.

I expect the islamic reps to quit turning this into a law again islam, when it's a law against all religions.

I find it offensive that I am told islam is respectful of others and their religions, but claim that a person's wearing of a cross is less significant than the hajib because it doesn't explicitly mention it in the christian bible.

You're more than welcome to change my location, but I feel it's perfectly valid when I am referred to as a kufar by members of this board

[SisterJennifer]

<b></b>

\"Unlike a cross, which is not an obligation for Christians to wear, hijabs, yarmulkes and turbans are not \"symbols\" that can be removed without abandoning religious responsibilities.

Phatmonkey, isn't a yarmulka worn by Jews? I'm not going to debate the difference between a cross around a neck and a hijab again with you, we know each others positions already.

And please do not take offense to this type of posting on a thread which is intended for it. If you don't care to read about it, just skip the thread altogether. No big deal.

Take care,

Jennifer

[phatmonky]

<i>Originally posted by SisterJennifer </i><b>Phatmonkey, isn't a yarmulka worn by Jews?  I'm not going to debate the difference between a cross around a neck and a hijab again with you, we know each others positions already.  </b>

And please do not take offense to this type of posting on a thread which is intended for it.  If you don't care to read about it, just skip the thread altogether.  No big deal.

Take care,

Jennifer

Yes it is. And it shouldn't be banned either - but this isn't a law against islam exclusively,as this article, and others on this board, would have me believe.

I do take offense to a religion purported as accepting, but unwilling to acknowledge the importance of others' symbols as well as their own.

Just because I don't agree, or am offended doesn't mean I don't care to read about it. ON the contrary, it makes me read that much more. Only an ostrich thinks it's okay when it's head is in the sand.

[phatmonky]

<i>Originally posted by JohnDoe </i><b><i>French not only offenders on hijab</i></b>

Anger against France is justified, but what about Iran and Saudi Arabia? By Tarek Fatah

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=968350116795

<i>In the worst application of the Saudi law, 15 schoolgirls perished in March, 2002, when they were not permitted to flee their burning school in Mecca because they were not \"wearing correct Islamic dress.\"</i>

Wow!