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Concerns over bans on 'conspicuous religious symbols'
February 26, 2005 12:00 AM
By Claude Moraes and co-signatories in The Guardian
By Claude Moraes and co-signatories in The Guardian
There is growing all-party support and concern in relation to the French ban on "conspicuous religious symbols" which has in France, and increasingly now in Germany, simply targeted the Muslim hijab (Comment, February 25). This is why this week, MEPs across the political parties have launched a written declaration calling for the French government to reconsider its ban and for other EU governments to emphasise the deep problems being caused by the ban.
We took the time to listen to those affected and those who argued for the secular approach of France on this issue. We believe there is growing evidence that the ban infringes article 9 of the European convention on human rights, but its practical effect is of particular concern and has clearly ended in the targeting of one major group, with negative effects on religious groups like the Sikhs who were not properly consulted and are now suffering the effects of the ban.
Claude Moraes MEP (Lab), Caroline Lucas MEP (Green), Sarah Ludford MEP (Lib Dem), Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP (Conservative), Alain Lipietz MEP (French Green)
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