Euro-MP criticises French Senate vote on articles of faith (Liz Lynne)

Euro-MP criticises French Senate vote on articles of faith

March 4, 2004 12:00 AM

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has criticised the French Senate for approving a bill banning the wearing of articles of faith in state schools and regulating their wearing in the workplace.

Liz Lynne MEP and the Muslim community will be holding a rally on Saturday in Birmingham to demonstrate against the proposed law. At the rally people will hand over signed petitions they have been collecting on Liz's behalf.

Speaking following last nights vote in the French Parliament's upper house, the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"At the rally on Saturday I will be asking the people of the West Midlands to put pressure on the French Government over the next few days and urge President Chirac not to sign this bill in to law."

"The proposal is more about appeasing the right wing parties in France than protecting a Secular society. I hope the President will see that this proposed ban constitutes a breach of fundamental human rights such as freedom of religion and expression. Bans on religious freedom should not be part of a 21st century Europe."

ENDS

Liz Lynne