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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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8th March 2004

Briefing now available on-line: Muslim Women, Human Rights and Religious Freedom: Europe Under the Spotlight of National and International Law

As various European countries gear up to ‘outlaw’ Muslim women’s dress in state schools, IHRC’s latest briefing deals with the flagrant violations of human rights norms and international laws that these bans will incur.

The briefing can be read and printed off at:
https://www.ihrc.org.uk/show.php?id=1025

(or by clicking on the URL below)

The briefing looks at France, Belgium and Germany and assesses the impact and implications from a legal framework for social cohesion and the long term inclusivity of minorities in Europe.

A spokesperson for IHRC said upon the release of the briefing:

“The proposed ban on Muslim women’s dress in European schools is a dangerous and disturbing development with precedents in the demonisation and exclusion of Jews, Roma and other minorities in the fascist oriented Europe of the 1930s and 1940s.

“The targeting of gender also belies the horrible reality of Europe today, where women may claim to be equal but can only effect any role in wider society by the determination of the state and not individual choice. Sexism, racism and Islamophobia are currently running unchecked not only on the streets but in the legislatures of Europe in a catastrophic manner.”

The briefing looks at the national laws of each country as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

For more information or a copy of the briefing sent by email, please contact, info@ihrc.org or call (+44) 20 8904 4222 or email (+44) 7958 60 74 75.

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org