"I underline and underscore: It is their right and I can not oppose it," Tantawi, right (AFP)

By Subhy Mujahid, IOL Correspondent

CAIRO, December 30 (IslamOnline.net) - Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi said Tuesday, December 30, that Muslim women living in France can take off their hijabs if forced by the necessity, referring to a proposed law banning hijab in state schools.

Speaking at a press conference with visiting French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, Tantawi underlined that hijab is "a divine obligation for a Muslim woman ... No Muslim, whether ruler or ruled, can oppose it."

But he argued that France had the right to ban hijab in state schools, adding that any Muslim body or country is not entitled to oppose that because France is a non-Muslim country.

"Hijab is an obligation if the woman lives in a Muslim country. If she lives in a non-Muslim country, like France, whose officials want to adopt laws opposed to hijab, it is their right," said Al-Azhar Grand Imam, a government-appointed scholar.

He asserted that when a Muslim woman abide by the laws of a non-Muslim country (in taking off her hijab), then Islam regards her as being forced by necessity.

Sheikh Tantawi defended his opinion by citing the noble verse, which reads: "He has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, - then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

"I underline and underscore: It is their right and I can not oppose it…We, as a Muslim country, cannot allow anybody to interfere in our internal affairs," he said commenting on the mooted French ban.

"I myself, in my capacity as the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, do not allow non-Muslims to interfere in our internal affairs, and by the same token, I cannot allow myself to interfere in the internal affairs of a non-Muslim country," added Tantawi.

French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, December 17, backed a proposal on a new legislation banning Hijab in public schools.

Former French justice minister Bernard Stasi, who headed a government committee on secularism and religion, recommended earlier in the month issuing a law banning hijab, large crosses and the Jewish skullcaps.

The proposed measure is set to be put before the French parliament in February and is expected to come into effect by September.

Paradigm

For his part, Sarkozy said France has set itself as a paradigm in Europe when it comes to the right of freedom of religion, noting that the establishment of the first Muslim council in the country was a case in point.

He argued that Muslims in France, around five millions, now have representatives and do enjoy the same rights of Christians and Jews.

Sarkozy said President Chirac deems Islam as one of the important religions in France, but added that Muslims have rights and duties and are expected to abide by the country's laws.

He said the proposed ban reflected the strict separation of church and state in France.

"Secularism means neutrality in state school education, it is not aimed specifically at Muslims," he said. "You must not regard this as a humiliation or lack of respect for your religion. You must understand that secularism is our tradition, our choice."

He also said a dialogue between civilizations has become very important nowadays, noting that "our differences should make us stronger".