FRANCE: FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE PROTEST IN PARIS OVER PROPOSED GOVERNMENT BAN ON ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES ANMD RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN SCHOOLS

Record ID: 646543

  • Title: FRANCE: FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE PROTEST IN PARIS OVER PROPOSED GOVERNMENT BAN ON ISLAMIC HEADSCARVES ANMD RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS IN SCHOOLS
  • Date: 17th January 2004
  • Summary: (W5) PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 17, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WIDE TOP VIEW OF DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNER READING: "Isn't it Islam which made you discover school?" 0.05 2. SMV DEMONSTRATORS BRANDISHING VOTING CARD AND HOLDING BANNER READING "At the Presidential elections I vote"/ MAN BRANDISHING THE KORAN 0.11 3. SMV WOMEN WEARING HEADSCARVES CHANTING: "Neither our brother nor our husband, we've chosen the veil." 0.19 4. SLV DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING WITH BANNERS READING: "The veil is a choice." 0.25 5. PAN OF YOUNG GIRLS CHANTING: "We've chosen the veil/ GIRL HOLDING BANNER READING: "One veil equals one vote." 0.35 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFED YOUNG GIRL SAYING: "The veil is a right, it is the "liberty, equality, fraternity". Wearing the veil is a liberty. For us, it is like one was touching our personal dignity. Why should someone wearing low cut clothing, or I don't know what, have the right to wear it, but we don't (have the right to wear the veil)"? 0.52 7. SLV DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING AND CHANTING: "No to the expulsion, liberty for all religions." 1.05 8. SLV MOHAMED LATRECHE, PRESIDENT OF THE RADICAL MUSLIM PARTY ON TOP OF CAR SALUTING 1.12 9. PAN OF BANNER READING: "Right to school, right to knowledge" 1.17 10. SMV DEMONSTRATION WITH WOMEN WITH HEADSCARVES, ONE WOMAN WEARING POSTER OVER HER FACE 1.20 11. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFED YOUNG GIRL SAYING: "Secularism does not mean becoming atheist. Secularism means living with a Christian and a Jew next to us. Secularism means tolerance." 1.30 12. SCU GIRL WITH MASK READING: "Where is Liberty, Equality, Fraternity?" 1.36 13. WIDE OF DEMONSTRATION 1.42 14. SMV DEMONSTRATORS WITH FLAGS 1.47 15. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING 2.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS ,FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAAJOUKYSCHHSSGBHSFETCFIXNS
  • Story Text: Five thousand gather in Paris to protest upcoming ban on Islamic
    headscarves in state schools.




    Thousands of demonstrators began a march from Republique Square on
    Saturday (January 17) in protest against President Chirac's decision to ban
    ostentatious religious symbols in schools. The demonstration was called by
    Mohamed Latreche, President of the radical Muslim Party and the Union of the
    French Muslim Organisations (UOIF), a radical branch of the French Islam.

    Shouting slogans such as "no to the expulsion", "liberty for all religions",
    demonstrators, wearing headscarves, held aloft banners "at the Presidential
    elections I vote" or "the veil is a choice" as they made their way peacefully
    to Nation Square.

    A young demonstrator said that secularism should mean tolerance. "Secularism does
    not mean becoming atheist. Secularism means living with a Christian and a Jew next
    to us. Secularism means tolerance", she said.

    The demonstration is under close police surveillance after the government
    warned on Friday (January 16) of attempts to stir up radical opposition to the
    ban. For the government, secularism is an essential element to protect French
    citizens, whatever gender or belief they hold.

    Many French politicians and voters support the planned law as a bulwark against
    Islamist influence among Muslim immigrants. It has divided opinion among France's
    five million Muslims.

    Dalil Boubaker, chairman of the French council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), has
    described the march as a very dangerous measure that could frighten voters two
    months before regional elections are held across France. Other Muslims feel
    unfairly targeted by Chirac's plan. A pro-veil march in Paris last month rallied
    more than 3,000 protesters, many of them veiled young women.

    Chirac's centre-right government wants to rush the anti-veil law through parliament
    so that debate starts before the regional elections and the ban is effective by
    September. Similar demonstrations are also due to take place in Marseille,
    Lille and Toulouse.

    (sw/lh)

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