Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! Libertй, Egalitй, Fraternitй!
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Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Letter of European Citizens addressed to the Presidency of the European Union:
-Mr. Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, President of the Council of the European Union
-Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament
-Mr. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission
On Wednesday the 17th of December, the French president Jacques Chirac commented the conclusions of the Stasi Commission, which dealt with the neutrality of the public sphere. In his speech he voiced his support for one of the main advices of this Commission to ban ostentatious religious symbols from public offices such as schools. The main reason for this is to protect the notion of French citizenship of equality between people.
Both the Stasi Commission and President Chirac took great care to state that these measures were not directed against a particular religious orientation, but were mainly proposed to protect the fundaments of Laпcitй on which the French Republic rests. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the fact that this measure will severely affect the right to the freedom of religion of the people concerned in practice. Moreover, one cannot take away the impression that this measure is directed against the Muslim population. The public visibility of Muslims, and mainly: headscarf-wearing women, was indeed the concrete reason for convening the Stasi Commision.
Muslims consider the headscarf as an inalienable part of religious practice. The Islamic headscarf is therefore not a religious symbol, it is firstly a religious practice, which has its own function in the religious system that Islam is. Therefore, by forbidding the headscarf, the French government is not only interfering in the freedom of religious practice, it is also defining the way one should or should not practice. Needless to stress that this measure entails one of the most fundamental violations of the principle of religious freedom and neutrality of the state. The entire controversy furthermore displays French intolerance towards Islam and a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Islamic headscarf. The ban is considered a great atrocity against Muslims and Islam.
If France is really to take the insertion of its Muslim citizens into French society seriously, it is not by interfering in the way millions of Muslims should conceive their religious practice that this will be achieved. Such a prohibition will only lead to a further alienation of these Muslim citizens, and will stop the process of active citizenship of Muslims in to French society that was taking place since the last decennia.
As European citizens, we therefore require that France as one of the founding members of the European Union , like all other Member States considering to introduce such measures, are recalled upon their engagement to respect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Art 6 TEU)
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
The same language can be found in Art 18 ICCPR and Art 9 ECHR. If such a law, that would prohibit the total and free religious practice, would be voted in French parliament, we demand that the European Institution take strong action to this with all political means available. What is happening in France today and probably in other Member States in the near future, is a significant test case for the strength of the European Union and its commitment in defending the fundamental values it aspires to embody not only in the world but first and foremost inside its own borders.
-------
If you agree with the contents of the above text, please sign this petition with your name and place of residence, at the latest on 20 March 2004. The petition will be send to the European representatives mentioned, on Sunday 21 March 2004, The International Day Against Racism and Discrimination.
Arab European League
******************************************************
VERSION FRANCAISE
Libertй, Egalitй, Fraternitй!
Lettre de Citoyens Europйens adressйe а la prйsidence de lUnion Europйenne :
-Mr. Bertie Ahern, Premier Ministre de la rйpublique dIrlande, Prйsident du Conseil de lunion Europйenne
-Mr. Pat Cox, Prйsident du Parlement Europйen
-Mr. Romano Prodi, Prйsident de la commission europйenne
Le Mercredi 17 dйcembre, le Prйsident de la Rйpublique franзaise Jacques Chirac commenta les conclusions de la Commission Stasi sur la neutralitй de lespace public. Dans son discours, le prйsident dйclara son soutient а lune des conclusions majeures de la Commission : linterdiction des signes religieux ostentatoires dans les йtablissements publics tel que lйcole. Ces conclusions йtaient motivйes par la redйfinition et la protection de la notion de citoyennetй franзaise et de lйgalitй entre les citoyens.
La commission Stasi et le Prйsident Chirac on insistй sur le fait que ces conclusions ne visaient aucune orientation religieuse particuliиre, mais avaient pour but de protйger les fondements de la laпcitй franзaise. Nйanmoins, lon ne peut ignorer que ces mesures-ci affecteront le principe de libertй religieuse des personnes pratiquantes, dautant plus que lon ne peut йvacuer limpression que ces mesures visent une certaine population religieuse : les Musulmans. La manifestation publique des musulmans par le biais des femmes portant le foulard, йtait en effet lune des raisons principales pour la convocation de la Commission Stasi.
Le foulard est considйrй par la majoritй des musulmans comme une partie intйgrante de la pratique religieuse. Le foulard islamique, par consйquent, nest pas un symbole religieux, mais une pratique religieuse qui a sa propre fonction dans le systиme religieux de lIslam. En interdisant le port du foulard islamique, le gouvernement franзais non seulement intervient dans le principe de libertй religieuse, il dйfinit aussi la faзon dont un musulman peut ou ne peut pas pratiquer sa religion. Cela veut non seulement dire que le gouvernement porte une atteinte grave au principe de libertй religieuse, mais aussi au principe de neutralitй.
Si la France veut vraiment prendre linsertion de ses citoyens musulmans dans la sociйtй franзaise aux sйrieux, ce nest pas en intervenant dans la pratique religieuse de millions de musulmans que ceci va кtre atteint. Cette interdiction ne fera qualiйner les citoyens franзais de confessions musulmanes, et arrкtera le processus de citoyennetй active des musulmans qui prenait forme depuis plus dune dйcennie.
En tant que citoyens europйens, nous demandons que la France, lun des pays fondateurs de lUnion Europйenne, comme tout autre pays membre qui tenterait dinsйrer de telles mesures, soit rappelйe de ses engagements а respecter et promouvoir les droits de lhomme et les libertйs fondamentales (art 6 TEU)
Article 18 de la dйclaration universelle des droits de lhomme dйclare: Toute personne a droit а la libertй de pensйe, de conscience et de religion; ce droit implique la libertй de changer de religion ou de conviction ainsi que la libertй de manifester sa religion ou sa conviction, seule ou en commun, tant en public qu'en privй, par l'enseignement, les pratiques, le culte et l'accomplissement des rites.
On retrouve le mкme langage dans larticle 18 de la Convention Internationale des Droits Civils et Politiques (CIDCP) et larticle 9 de la Cour Europйenne des Droits de lHomme (CEDH). Si telle loi, qui interdirait une pratique religieuse libre et totale, viendrait а кtre votйe dans le parlement franзais, nous demandons que les institutions europйennes prennent des fortes mesures, avec tous les moyens politiques disponibles. Ce qui se passe aujourdhui en France, et probablement dans dautres pays membres dans un avenir prochain, est un test significatif pour la force de lUnion Europйenne et son engagement dans la dйfense des valeurs fondamentales quelle aspire a reprйsenter non seulement dans le monde, mais dabord et surtout au sein de ses propres frontiиres.
-----
Si vous souscrivez ce texte, veuillez signer avec votre nom, et votre lieu de rйsidence au plus tard le 20 mars 2004. Le dimanche 21 mars 2004, journйe internationale contre le racisme et la discrimination, cette pйtition sera remise aux responsables europйens mentionnйs.
Ligue Arabe Europйenne
Letter of European Citizens addressed to the Presidency of the European Union:
-Mr. Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, President of the Council of the European Union
-Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament
-Mr. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission
On Wednesday the 17th of December, the French president Jacques Chirac commented the conclusions of the Stasi Commission, which dealt with the neutrality of the public sphere. In his speech he voiced his support for one of the main advices of this Commission to ban ostentatious religious symbols from public offices such as schools. The main reason for this is to protect the notion of French citizenship of equality between people.
Both the Stasi Commission and President Chirac took great care to state that these measures were not directed against a particular religious orientation, but were mainly proposed to protect the fundaments of Laпcitй on which the French Republic rests. Nevertheless, one cannot overlook the fact that this measure will severely affect the right to the freedom of religion of the people concerned in practice. Moreover, one cannot take away the impression that this measure is directed against the Muslim population. The public visibility of Muslims, and mainly: headscarf-wearing women, was indeed the concrete reason for convening the Stasi Commision.
Muslims consider the headscarf as an inalienable part of religious practice. The Islamic headscarf is therefore not a religious symbol, it is firstly a religious practice, which has its own function in the religious system that Islam is. Therefore, by forbidding the headscarf, the French government is not only interfering in the freedom of religious practice, it is also defining the way one should or should not practice. Needless to stress that this measure entails one of the most fundamental violations of the principle of religious freedom and neutrality of the state. The entire controversy furthermore displays French intolerance towards Islam and a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Islamic headscarf. The ban is considered a great atrocity against Muslims and Islam.
If France is really to take the insertion of its Muslim citizens into French society seriously, it is not by interfering in the way millions of Muslims should conceive their religious practice that this will be achieved. Such a prohibition will only lead to a further alienation of these Muslim citizens, and will stop the process of active citizenship of Muslims in to French society that was taking place since the last decennia.
As European citizens, we therefore require that France as one of the founding members of the European Union , like all other Member States considering to introduce such measures, are recalled upon their engagement to respect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Art 6 TEU)
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
The same language can be found in Art 18 ICCPR and Art 9 ECHR. If such a law, that would prohibit the total and free religious practice, would be voted in French parliament, we demand that the European Institution take strong action to this with all political means available. What is happening in France today and probably in other Member States in the near future, is a significant test case for the strength of the European Union and its commitment in defending the fundamental values it aspires to embody not only in the world but first and foremost inside its own borders.
-------
If you agree with the contents of the above text, please sign this petition with your name and place of residence, at the latest on 20 March 2004. The petition will be send to the European representatives mentioned, on Sunday 21 March 2004, The International Day Against Racism and Discrimination.
Arab European League
******************************************************
VERSION FRANCAISE
Libertй, Egalitй, Fraternitй!
Lettre de Citoyens Europйens adressйe а la prйsidence de lUnion Europйenne :
-Mr. Bertie Ahern, Premier Ministre de la rйpublique dIrlande, Prйsident du Conseil de lunion Europйenne
-Mr. Pat Cox, Prйsident du Parlement Europйen
-Mr. Romano Prodi, Prйsident de la commission europйenne
Le Mercredi 17 dйcembre, le Prйsident de la Rйpublique franзaise Jacques Chirac commenta les conclusions de la Commission Stasi sur la neutralitй de lespace public. Dans son discours, le prйsident dйclara son soutient а lune des conclusions majeures de la Commission : linterdiction des signes religieux ostentatoires dans les йtablissements publics tel que lйcole. Ces conclusions йtaient motivйes par la redйfinition et la protection de la notion de citoyennetй franзaise et de lйgalitй entre les citoyens.
La commission Stasi et le Prйsident Chirac on insistй sur le fait que ces conclusions ne visaient aucune orientation religieuse particuliиre, mais avaient pour but de protйger les fondements de la laпcitй franзaise. Nйanmoins, lon ne peut ignorer que ces mesures-ci affecteront le principe de libertй religieuse des personnes pratiquantes, dautant plus que lon ne peut йvacuer limpression que ces mesures visent une certaine population religieuse : les Musulmans. La manifestation publique des musulmans par le biais des femmes portant le foulard, йtait en effet lune des raisons principales pour la convocation de la Commission Stasi.
Le foulard est considйrй par la majoritй des musulmans comme une partie intйgrante de la pratique religieuse. Le foulard islamique, par consйquent, nest pas un symbole religieux, mais une pratique religieuse qui a sa propre fonction dans le systиme religieux de lIslam. En interdisant le port du foulard islamique, le gouvernement franзais non seulement intervient dans le principe de libertй religieuse, il dйfinit aussi la faзon dont un musulman peut ou ne peut pas pratiquer sa religion. Cela veut non seulement dire que le gouvernement porte une atteinte grave au principe de libertй religieuse, mais aussi au principe de neutralitй.
Si la France veut vraiment prendre linsertion de ses citoyens musulmans dans la sociйtй franзaise aux sйrieux, ce nest pas en intervenant dans la pratique religieuse de millions de musulmans que ceci va кtre atteint. Cette interdiction ne fera qualiйner les citoyens franзais de confessions musulmanes, et arrкtera le processus de citoyennetй active des musulmans qui prenait forme depuis plus dune dйcennie.
En tant que citoyens europйens, nous demandons que la France, lun des pays fondateurs de lUnion Europйenne, comme tout autre pays membre qui tenterait dinsйrer de telles mesures, soit rappelйe de ses engagements а respecter et promouvoir les droits de lhomme et les libertйs fondamentales (art 6 TEU)
Article 18 de la dйclaration universelle des droits de lhomme dйclare: Toute personne a droit а la libertй de pensйe, de conscience et de religion; ce droit implique la libertй de changer de religion ou de conviction ainsi que la libertй de manifester sa religion ou sa conviction, seule ou en commun, tant en public qu'en privй, par l'enseignement, les pratiques, le culte et l'accomplissement des rites.
On retrouve le mкme langage dans larticle 18 de la Convention Internationale des Droits Civils et Politiques (CIDCP) et larticle 9 de la Cour Europйenne des Droits de lHomme (CEDH). Si telle loi, qui interdirait une pratique religieuse libre et totale, viendrait а кtre votйe dans le parlement franзais, nous demandons que les institutions europйennes prennent des fortes mesures, avec tous les moyens politiques disponibles. Ce qui se passe aujourdhui en France, et probablement dans dautres pays membres dans un avenir prochain, est un test significatif pour la force de lUnion Europйenne et son engagement dans la dйfense des valeurs fondamentales quelle aspire a reprйsenter non seulement dans le monde, mais dabord et surtout au sein de ses propres frontiиres.
-----
Si vous souscrivez ce texte, veuillez signer avec votre nom, et votre lieu de rйsidence au plus tard le 20 mars 2004. Le dimanche 21 mars 2004, journйe internationale contre le racisme et la discrimination, cette pйtition sera remise aux responsables europйens mentionnйs.
Ligue Arabe Europйenne
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