Ban on Islamic Scarves Urged

12/12/2003| IslamWeb

A committee of French experts yesterday recommended a ban on Islamic headscarves in schools in order to reaffirm the country's secular identity, which they warned is under threat from growing religious factionalism. The 20-member committee headed by former government minister Bernard Stasi said that Islamic headscarves are a "conspicuous" sign of religious affiliation and should be forbidden in the classroom along with Jewish skull-caps and large crosses. Drawn up after three months of consultations across the country, the report was handed over yesterday to President Jacques Chirac who will announce next week whether he supports putting the recommendations into law. It also suggests making the Jewish Yom Kippur and the Muslim Eid Al Kabir annual holidays in state schools; the creation of a national school of Islamic studies; and the provision of alternative meals in public canteens to observant Muslims and Jews. Chirac has hinted he favours a tough assertion of France's separation of religion and state, telling an audience in Tunisia last week that "We cannot accept ostentatious signs of religious proselytism, whatever the religion." **PHOTO CAPTION*** Bernard Stasi, left, who headed a blue-ribbon panel commissioned by President Jacques Chirac, right, hands its conclusions to Chirac, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AP Photo/Charles Platiau/Pool)