01-16-2004, 01:12 PM
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.
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WE URGE YOU TO JOIN THE ACTIONS TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO ATTEND.
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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/