Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London SW1A 2AH,

Fax: +44 20 7839 2417:

Email private.office@fco.gov.uk 

Dear Mr. Straw,

Re: French government’s plan to ban religious symbols in public places

I write with regard to the French Prime Minister’s comments on Friday

28th November 2003 regarding his proposed bill to ban religious symbols.

I am deeply concerned that this will be enacted and request that you

make immediate representations to the French government to prevent any such legislation being further discussed let alone enacted. Clearly

such a bill will violate the European Convention on Human Rights, as

well as other international documents and standards. It would also be a discriminatory blow to Muslim women forcing them to either violate their principles or quite simply stay at home.

In point of fact the proposed requirement for Muslim women to remove clothing is a violent abuse of their rights and can not be sanctioned by

any government respecting human rights.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding the immediate

action you have taken in this matter. I note that the Minister for

Europe in your office is in fact Dr. Dennis MacShane MP. However I do

not feel that he should remain in his position given his recent

Islamophobic outbursts. He certainly cannot intercede in this matter as

he has clearly exhibited a derogatory attitude towards Muslims, and I

trust that your office will be looking to replace him shortly should he

refuse to do the honourable thing and resign.

I await your urgent response.

Yours sincerely,

Your name

(2)

Model letter to Ministers for Foreign Affairs (general)

To find the address of your Minister for Foreign Affairs go to:

http://www.usip.org/library/formin.html 

Your name

Your email

Your address

Date

Name of Minister

Address of Minister

Dear [NAME of MINISTER],

Re: French government’s plan to ban religious symbols in public places

I write with regard to the French Prime Minister’s comments on Friday

28th November 2003 regarding his proposed bill to ban religious symbols.

I am deeply concerned that this will be enacted and request that you

make immediate representations to the French government to prevent any such legislation being further discussed let alone enacted. Clearly

such a bill will violate the European Convention on Human Rights, as

well as other international documents and standards. It would also be a discriminatory blow to Muslim women forcing them to either violate their principles or quite simply stay at home.

In point of fact the proposed requirement for Muslim women to remove

clothing is a violent abuse of their rights and can not be sanctioned by

any government respecting human rights.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding the immediate

action you have taken in this matter.

I await your urgent response.

Yours sincerely,

Your name

(3)

Model letter to French Ambassadors

To find the name and address of the French Ambassador in your country go to:

http://www.info-france-usa.org/atoz/embassies.asp 

Your name

Your address

Your email / fax

Date

Name of Ambassador

Name of Embassy

Address of Embassy

Your Excellency, Re: French government’s plan to ban religious symbols in public places I write with regard to the French Prime Minister’s comments on Friday 28th November 2003 regarding his proposed bill to ban religious symbols.

I am deeply concerned at these comments and request you to make my opposition to this action known to our government. I am shocked that having so recently stood up to the bullying tactics of the USA over the Iraq war, your government now mimics its xenophobia in its treatment of Muslim women.

Any such action on the part of your government will not simply alienate Muslims but all those who believe in equal and full rights for women and minorities world-wide.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding this matter, in the

hope that the Prime Minister’s comments do no become a governmental

policy or decision.

Yours truly,

Your name

(4)  

Model letter to President Jacques Chirac

Your letter can be emailed by using the following page:

http://www.elysee.fr/ang/pres/portr_.htm 

Your name

Your address

Your email / fax

Date

Monsieur le Président de la République

Palais de l'Elysée

55, rue du faubourg Saint-Honoré

75008 Paris

FRANCE

Dear Monsieur Chirac,

Re: French government’s plan to ban religious symbols in public places

I write with regard to the French Prime Minister’s comments on Friday

28th November 2003 regarding his proposed bill to ban religious symbols.

I am shocked that having so recently stood up to the bullying tactics of the USA over the Iraq war, your government now mimics its xenophobia in its treatment of Muslim women. Any such bill would violate all human

rights standards including the European Convention on Human Rights and I urge you to arbitrate in this mater and stop this abuse of the function of the Prime Minister’s office.

Any such action on the part of the French government will not simply

alienate Muslims in France and world-wide but all those who believe in

equal and full rights for women and minorities. Just as you have spoken

out in recent weeks against anti-semitism you must tackle this growing

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred in French institutions and indeed

the government.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding this matter, in the

hope that the Prime Minister’s comments do no become a governmental

policy or decision.

Yours sincerely,

Your name

(5)  

Model letter to French Interior Minister

M. Nicolas Sarkozy

Ministre de l’Interieur, de la Securite et des Libertes Locales

Ministere de l’Interieur

Place Beauvau

Paris

France

Fax +33 1 43 59 89 50

e-mail sirp@cybercable.fr 

Dear Monsieur Sarkozy,

Re: French government’s plan to ban religious symbols in public places

I write with regard to the French Prime Minister’s comments on Friday

28th November 2003 regarding his proposed bill to ban religious symbols.

I strongly urge you in your capacity to resist any such bill as it would

violate all human rights standards including the European Convention on Human Rights. Any such action on the part of the French government will not simply alienate Muslims but all those who believe in equal and full rights for women and minorities world-wide.

I look forward to hearing from you shortly regarding this matter, in the

hope that the Prime Minister’s comments do no become a governmental

policy or decision.

Yours sincerely,

Your name