LONDON, December 20 (IslamOnline.net) - A planned French legislation to ban hijab in public schools has drawn a barrage of Muslim criticism worldwide, with British Muslims saying such laws are only issued by "authoritarian governments and not liberal democracies".

The Chairman of the Union of Islamic Organizations in Europe, Ahmad al-Rawi, said the move is evidence that France has misinterpreted secularism and tailored it for its own requirements in a sharp contrast to the situation in other secular European countries, notably Britain.

"Although Britain and France are both secular, the former distinguished itself by adopting a set of pro-freedom concepts long time ago and has been dealing with Islam and Muslims decently," he told IslamOnline.net.

"On the other extreme, France regards secularism as another religion that is completely different from other religions," Rawi added.

Asked what the union plans to do, Rawi recalled issuing a statement on December 14, vehemently renouncing forcing Muslim girls in France to remove their hijab and strongly asserting that hijab is not a mere religious symbol but an obligation.

He further said that the Belgian capital Brussels will play host to a symposium on the issue, which will tackle possible actions against the French ban on hijab.

The Muslim council of Britain (MCB) denounced the planned discriminatory law, saying such laws were expected from "authoritarian governments and not from a liberal democracy."

"Banning hijab will send a strong signal throughout the Muslim world that the French government is intent on revisiting its dark and brutal days in North and West Africa. We hope this is not the case," said MCB Secretary General Iqbal Sacranie.

"This unjust ban should be revoked without delay as it represents a clear violation of the rights of the individual," he added.

The Muslim activist said the proposed ban is the latest example of "an institutionalized Islamophobia that is unfortunately taking root in several parts of Europe.

"There is something absurd about the sight of the mighty French state trembling before a mere headscarf," said Sacranie.

He urged France to model itself after Britain in encouraging and celebrating diversity without controversy.

"We should inform Chirac about how diversity in Britain has enriched this nation just as it would certainly enrich France," said Sacranie, praising the respect of different traditions showed by British Home Office Minister Fiona MacTaggart.

"We are developing work on inter-faith dialogue and the importance of understanding of each others cultures," said MacTaggart

MacTaggart said during a MCB reception Thursday, December 18, that diversity is something that the British government valued, noting that a British woman can wear the hijab comfortably in public or in school.

"We are developing work on inter-faith dialogue and the importance of understanding of each others cultures and respect for one another's traditions and values," she asserted.

The Muslim Women Society in Britain (MWS), for its part, said the proposed French law violates the fundamental human right of religious freedom, contravening both the European Convention and Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

"At a time when increasing numbers of conscientious and educated women are converting to Islam and observing the headscarf, it is mistakenly considered as a threat to a secular state, it is not, " MWS President Abeer Pharaon said.

"It is the simple observance of a religious right, fulfilled by an ever growing number of Muslim women," she added.

The London Muslim Center also joined the barrage of criticism, asserting that Chirac’s decision "is clearly an attack directed against French Muslims and the religion of Islam".

"We can only hope that this intolerance and discrimination does not spread to other parts of Europe," Bari said.

"A nation cannot claim to uphold principles of liberty and equality while denying the religious rights of its citizens," said Awad

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the proposed ban would restrict the ability of French Muslims, Jews and Christians to freely exercise their religious beliefs.

The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy group said the move would also contravene the French constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

"A nation cannot claim to uphold principles of liberty and equality while denying the religious rights of its citizens," CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a press release sent to IOL.

"A Muslim woman or Jewish man wearing religious attire is not an endorsement of a state religion and I hope that Jewish and Christian leaders worldwide will join our call in opposing this upcoming legislation," he said.

"If there is a law, only fundamentalists will profit from it," Ebadi was quoted by the BBC News Online as saying.