Egyptians Protest French Ban of Religious Symbols

February 15, 2004

Source: Al-Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/568D4FE1-ABAA-4DEC-85EF-483331EEB 32B.htm

On February 15, 2004 Al-Jazeera ran an Agence France Presse article that reported, "Hundreds of Egyptian women staged a sit-in at Cairo University to protest the French parliament's approval of a law banning the Muslim headscarf in state schools. Over 300 hijab-wearing students gathered on campus this Wednesday to denounce the French National Assembly's decision that could bring the dress-code law one step closer. 'My veil is the way to paradise,' read one banner in English. 'Shame on you France,' read another. 'French democracy is false.' Between 100 and 150 male students also demonstrated, with all protestors carefully watched by several hundred riot police."