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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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29th June 2004

PRESS RELEASE: European Court Ruling Devastating Blow for Human Rights and Justice
Hijab verdict legitimizes prejudice on a monumental scale.

IHRC is deeply concerned at today’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Turkey’s banning of some 50,000 Muslim women from attending university unless they remove their headscarf was legitimate.

Arzu Merali, speaking on behalf IHRC today said:

“This is a devastating blow for human rights and justice. Frankly it is reminiscent of the persecution of Jews in Europe in the early half of the last century. Then it was the rogueries of nation states within Europe that led to the demonisation and persecution of millions. Today it has been legitimized through the mechanisms of law at a supra-state level.

“We have been here before in Europe and we must recognize the dangerous path we are going down.”

Please contact the press office for copies or for more information on (+44) 20 8904 4222 or (+44) 7958 522 196 or (+44) 7958 60 74 75 or (+44) 7903 053362 or email info@ihrc.org

Islamic Human Rights Commission
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Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
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Email: info@ihrc.org
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