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----- Original Message -----
From: Mahmudul
Hasan
To: S A Hannan
Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:00 PM
Subject: European Muslim Women Activists Focus on Hijab European Muslim Women Activists Focus on Hijab
By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent
BRUSSELS, March 8, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) - Muslim women's right to
hijab should be defended in the context of European laws, according to Muslim
women activists gathered in Brussels for the first European Forum of Muslim
Women, the first Muslim women NGO in Europe.
"The right of Muslim women to preserve their identity and practice
their religious obligations freely including wearing hijab should be defended in
the context of European laws and international charters," according to the final
recommendations of the gathering.
"We don't consider hijab as an obstacle to social and political
integration, as veiled women who participated in the forum are members in
European political parties," Nura Gaballah, president-elect of the forum, told
IslamOnline.net Tuesday, March 7.
The issue of hijab has taken center stage in Europe after being
banned in state schools in several European countries.
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious
symbol displaying ones affiliations.
France spearheaded anti-hijab drive in Europe with its lower house
of parliament adopting the controversial bill in February 2004 with an
overwhelming majority.
Shortly afterwards, other European countries, chiefly Germany,
followed the French lead.
The French ban, described by international rights watchdogs as
amounting to religious discrimination, prompted demonstrations across
Europe.
New Generations
"It is significant to clearly communicate to the European society
the prestigious status of women under Islam and the equality of both sexes
according to the faith. We should work to achieve recognition of all Muslim
women's rights," Gaballah pointed out.
Muslim women activists emphasized the educational role of Muslim
women in the family to raise new generations who feel proud of their Islamic
identity and are active in their European societies.
They called for encouraging Muslim women to play an active role in
their societies through civil society institutions and show their abilities in
various fields.
The women activists advised reinforcing stability, peace and
security in European societies and the world and contribute to inter-culture
dialogue to alleviate hegemony and violence.
The Muslim activists called for establishing more women
associations that activate women to serve their societies.
They recommended that the European Forum of Muslim Women continues
to hold annual meetings for women associations in Europe.
The meeting was hosted by the Free University in Brussels and
themed "Muslim Women's Contributions to European Societies."
Muslim women activists elected a 45-member administrative committee
and board members, who in turn chose Gaballah, 46, as chairwoman of the forum
which featured 400 Muslim female activists from 14 European countries as well as
researchers and media people.
A Muslim pioneer activist in Europe, Gaballah migrated to France in
1980 from Tunisia which bans hijab.
She had put her sociology studies aside to participate in social
work where she established with other Muslim women in Paris the first Muslim
women society in France, which focused primarily on female schools' drop
outs.
In 1995, she established the French Muslim Women Society, the first
nation-wide association, and was elected as chairperson until 2003, a year that
witnessed a controversy on the law banning religious insignia including hijab in
schools and public places in France.
7 bucks a month. This is Huge Yahoo! Music Unlimited *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest".
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