Catholic Organization Says Muslim Headscarf a Political Symbol, Should Be Banned

January 7, 2004

Source: Yahoo! News

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&ncid=518&e=4&u=/ap/20040107/ap_on_re_eu/europe_headscarf_1

On January 7, 2004 Yahoo! News posted an Associated Press article that reported, "The Muslim headscarf should be considered a political symbol and legislation banning public school teachers from wearing it should not extend to religious symbols that are part of the country's 'Christian tradition,' a German Catholic organization said Wednesday. The statement was the latest development in a nationwide debate that began in September after Germany's highest court ruled veils are allowed unless existing legislation outlaws them. The Federal Constitutional Court further said any new laws must treat all religions equally. The Central Committee of German Catholics said banning all religious symbols 'would ignore the meaning of the Christian tradition of this country.' The headscarf should be seen as a 'symbol against the equal rights of women, and thus against our free democratic constitutional structure as well as the values of our society,' the group said."