Demonstration in defence of secularism

On 17 January, Islamists have called for demonstration in London to protest the French government’s decision to introduce a law banning conspicuous religious symbols in state schools and state institutions. They claim this ban is discriminatory, against women's equal rights, violates women's and girl's rights to education and work, restricts religious freedom and is even anti-pluralism and secularism. All these claims are false and in fact a mockery of the very principles they feign to defend. Ironically, the very Islamic movement that is renowned for intimidating, terrorizing and violating women and girls and their rights, is using norms that are antithetical to its belief system and practice in order to maintain its repressive laws and clothing on women and girls.

Clearly, religion, religious symbols and religious freedoms are private affairs not the affairs of a state. In fact states are duty-bound to ensure that all religious symbols be abolished from state-run institutions and schools. This is an important aspect of secularism and not vice versa. Also, contrary to claims that it is discriminatory, the ban in fact reverses the discriminatory effects of religion on women and girls. Moreover, maintaining secularism has nothing to do with racism. It is in fact racist to create different laws for religious and Islamic communities in the West and obstruct the access of women and girls in particular to the advances of civilized societies. Finally, protecting girl children from veiling goes beyond issues relating to secularism and redresses the rights of the child from having religious views and clothing imposed on her by her parents through no choice of her own. While a ban on child veiling is welcome in state schools and institutions, the banning of child veiling and religious schools are other crucial steps to fully defend children's rights.

The Organisation of Women’s Liberation - Iran and the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq are confident that the proposed law by the French government is a step toward establishing a secular society. Secularism is one precondition for a free society and women’s equality. The enforcement of this ban will be a first step towards this though it must be extended to include the banning of religious schools and the prohibition of child veiling. We must not allow religious extremism and political Islam to spread the rule of religion in society by means of intimidation, blackmail and threats. Religion must be relegated to a private matter. Religion must be separated from the state and educational system.

We invite all freedom loving individuals and organisations to join us in counter demonstrations on the same day in several countries, including England, Germany, Sweden and Norway. Details regarding the demonstration will be publicised later.

Organisation of Women’s Liberation - Iran

Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq

10 January 2004

Tel: +44 7789801250

+46 707744020

+49 1775692413

E-mail: azarmajedi@yahoo.com