On 17 Dec 2003, at 3:32 am, William T Goodall wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3325573.stm
...of religion
"French President Jacques Chirac is expected to express his support for a law that would ban pupils wearing Islamic headscarves in schools.
In a speech to the nation on Wednesday, he is due to give his reaction to last week's report which proposed a ban on conspicuous religious signs in schools.
The study by an expert commission examined a range of issues relating to religion and the state in France.
Religious leaders say the ban would be seen as discriminatory.
As well as headscarves, the ban would include Jewish skull-caps and large Christian crosses.
"Discreet" medallions and pendants which merely confirm a person's religious faith would be allowed.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/31/ wscarf31.xml
"Grand Mufti condones French headscarf ban By Henry Samuel in Paris (Filed: 31/12/2003)
The head of the biggest university in Islam yesterday backed France's drive to ban the Muslim headscarf in its schools, despite it being condemned by the Arab world.
Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the Grand Mufti of the al-Azhar mosque in Cairo and the foremost authority in Sunni Islam, said France had the right to pass a law banning all "conspicuous" religious symbols in state schools and institutions.
Wearing the headscarf was "a divine obligation for all Muslim women" that no governing Muslim could deny, he said in a joint press conference with Nicolas Sarkozy, France's interior minister.
But, he added, that obligation only applied "if the woman lives in a Muslim country". He quoted verses from the Koran stipulating that any Muslim who conforms to the laws of a non-Muslim country need not fear divine punishment. Until yesterday the sheikh had remained silent over the issue, describing it as "an internal French affair"."
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone." - Bjarne Stroustrup
-- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone." - Bjarne Stroustrup
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