Euro-MP calls for court challenge to French ban

3.41.40pm GMT Mon 8th Mar 2004

Release time: 08/03/2004 Embargo: Immediate

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne held a rally on Saturday 6th March to protest against the French Government's ban on Articles of Faith.

This particular rally was organised by people from the Muslim community who had been collecting signatures on petitions on Liz's behalf.

The Liberal Democrat MEP was presented with nearly 3000 signatures on Saturday calling on the French Government to respect the fundamental right of religious expression.

Speaking at the rally Liz said:

"I was appalled at the votes in the Senate and the Lower Chamber which passed this law with such a large majority. The proposal is more about appeasing the right wing parties in France than protecting a Secular society. It must be challenged in the French courts, and if that fails taken to the European Court of Human Rights.

"The petitions I have collected from people of all faiths are going to send a message to the French Government that this law goes against everything the European Union stands for.

"We must continue to fight these proposals even if President Chirac signs it in to law. Other countries like Germany and Belgium are looking closely and could be set to follow the French with a ban in their own state schools.

"Schoolchildren from all faiths will be faced with either going against their religious beliefs or compromising their education. Many will decide to leave state education and opt to go to all Muslim private schools for instance, causing the segregation that supporters of the ban say they are trying to prevent."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Liz Lynne MEP has sent her petition to Mosques, Temples, Synagogues and Churches throughout the West Midlands.

This law seeks to ban the wearing of articles of faith such as Sikh Turbans, Islamic headcoverings, Jewish skullcaps and oversized Christian crosses from French public schools and to regulate their wearing at the workplace.