Islamic Organization Says Govt Abusing Religious Symbols Ban

October 21, 2004

Source: Yahoo! News

Wire Service: AP

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=518&ncid=721&e=6&u=/ap/20041021/ap_on_re_eu/france_head_scarves

On October 21, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "A powerful Islamic organization alleged Thursday that officials were abusing a new law banning religious symbols from schools by expelling Muslim girls who were wearing printed bandannas — not Islamic head scarves. The head of the Union of Islamic Organizations of France urged girls expelled for wearing bandannas to take their cases to court. Seven girls have been expelled from school this week for breaking the ban, including two on Thursday. UOIF president Lhaj Thami Breze, denouncing some schools' interpretation of the law, also said his group would no longer be 'blackmailed' into silence by concern over the two French hostages held in Iraq."