Three hundred people braved cold weather and flurries outside the French consulate Saturday to protest the recently proposed ban on the Islamic headscarf in France.
Protesters at the 130 Bloor St. W. building waved signs, chanted slogans and signed a petition against the French law, which if passed would forbid the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in public schools and give employers the authority to implement the ban in the workplace.
“I refuse to believe that the rights women have been fighting for so long will be toppled by this law,” said Rania Lawendy, one of the event’s key speakers. Lawendy, who came from Waterloo to attend the protest, emphasized that the headscarf (part of the Qur’an-ordained hijab-covering of the body except the face and hands) is not a “religious symbol” but a religious obligation. Preventing women from wearing it, she said, violates Article 1 of the French Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.
“It’s a woman’s right to choose whether to wear the hijab or not to wear the hijab,” said Carolyn Egan of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council. “It is a question of human rights. It is a question of women’s rights.”
The demonstration, jointly organized by diverse groups to promote freedom of religion and expression, was part of an international day of action which saw protests around the world. Canadian cities observing the British-initiated call to action included Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Winnipeg.
Chantal Sundaram, organizer and U of T graduate, was pleased with the “great outpouring of support” given the short time in which the protest was organized. She was optimistic about the impact of the international effort and was impressed with the Toronto protest, noting that the audience included “all ages, faiths, and ethnicities.”
U of T groups involved as speakers or endorsers included the Muslim Students’ Association, Arab Students’ Collective and Amnesty International. Speeches were also given by representatives from the Sikh and Christian communities.
Iris Chan, 23, an administrative assistant with U of T who recently converted to Islam, attended the protest to refute stereotypes and support the rights of Muslims in France.
“It is important for me as a Muslim woman to assert that the hijab is not a mark of oppression, blindness, or suppression to a man’s will,” said Chan. “The hijab is entirely a choice that a woman makes.”
Joel Duff, a representative of the Canadian Federation of Students who spoke at the event, warned that the ban, if unchecked, could extend to political symbols and completely stifle free expression in France.
Sundaram promised there would be a reaction if the law is passed. She added that the hijab ban issue will be raised at a March 6 event at OISE for International Women’s Day.
