The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned French National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet’s Islamophobic remarks targeting visitors to that nation’s legislative body wearing Islamic head scarves, or hijab.
Braun-Pivet called for “extreme vigilance so that this (wearing hijab) does not happen again.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“These Islamophobic remarks reflect an alarming level of intolerance in France. Instead of promoting inclusion and respect for religious freedom, this kind of bigoted rhetoric further marginalizes an already vulnerable community and fuels anti-Muslim sentiment. French leaders should focus on upholding the universal principles of liberty and equality rather than policing Muslim women’s clothing choices.”
Last month, CAIR welcomed the government of Switzerland’s rejection of a ban on hijab, or Islamic headscarves, in schools.
CAIR also called on Portugal’s parliament to reject an Islamophobic bill that would ban the wearing of the face veil.
In August, CAIR condemned as ‘discriminatory and authoritarian’ a proposal announced by Austria’s integration minister to ban Islamic head scarves, or hijab, for girls under the age of 14.
Earlier this year, CAIR said that Islamophobia is “spinning out of control” in Europe after a Muslim woman was murdered in Germany and a mosque was burned during anti-immigrant riots in Spain.
CAIR also condemned the attempted arson of a Muslim prayer room in Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
In February, CAIR called on French lawmakers to reject proposed legislation that would ban the wearing of religiously-mandated attire in sports.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com