Скачать или смотреть Protest against French school headscarf ban

(17 Jan 2004)

Gaza city, Gaza Strip:
1. Women demonstrating carrying dozens of banners
2. Various of women chanting
3. Young girl wearing head scarf
4. Various banners with graphics and reading: "Man doesn't tell me to dress this way. It's a law from God that I obey"
5. Woman holding up the Koran
6. Close up of woman
7. Various of demonstration

Rafah, Gaza trip:
8. Various of women holding banners
9. Various of women demonstrating
10. Men marching with manners
11. Various of demonstration

Nablus, West Bank:
12. Women marching with several banners
13. Various of women marching with signs and Palestinian flags
14. Women carrying sign reading: "French democracy is false"
15. Various of women marching
16. Sign reading: "France! Where's the democracy you pretend?"
17. Women holding signs
18. Young girl
19. Wide of demonstration


STORYLINE:

Hundreds of Palestinian women demonstrated on Saturday in solidarity with Muslim women in France in response to the French government's plan to ban Muslim head scarves in schools.

In Nablus, West Bank about 300 women from the Nablus Muslim Woman's Association marched through the streets chanting against the French decision and carrying banners saying that wearing the head scarves is part of their honour as Muslim women.

In Gaza city and Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza strip, hundreds of women wearing their traditional dress also marched in protest to the France's plan.

The French government, worried about the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, intends to enact the law for the start of the 2004-2005 school year in September.

It says Muslim scarves and other obvious religious symbols must be kept out of schools to keep them secular and avoid religious strife.

But, many Islamic leaders say the law will stigmatise France's estimated 5 million Muslims, who make up 8 percent of the population.

From London to Baghdad, protesters around the world have taken to the streets to show their opposition.

Women in head scarves and men, often bearded and wearing robes, joined the Paris rally, which police said was expected to draw at least 10,000 people.

Other protests are expected in the United States, Canada and Britain.

The demonstrations would be the largest coordinated protest against a draft law that will forbid Muslim head scarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses in French public schools.

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