JAKARTA, 16 January 2004 — About 200 Indonesian Muslims yesterday picketed the French Embassy here to protest a decision to ban headscarves at state schools.
The protesters urged the French government to revoke the ruling, arguing that wearing headscarves for Muslim women is a religious obligation and not merely a cultural expression.
The protesters, mostly women wearing headscarves, chanted “Allah-u- Akbar (God is greatest).”
One of their posters read,” jilbab (veil) is compulsory, not embellishment,” while another read “secularism oppresses Muslim women.”
The protest was organized by Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an international Islamic movement. The group is gaining popularity in Indonesia.
The protesters said Muslims helped free King Francis I who was detained by the Spaniards during the battle of Pavia in 1525.
“Will France return the Muslim favor by revoking the law banning Muslim women from wearing headscarves?” the group said in an open letter to French President Jacques Chirac. Hizb-ut-Tahrir said its global leadership had delivered the letter to Chirac last week outlining its stand on the ban.
