Pharaon said the declaration was initially drafted by Lucas (Green Party), amended by MEP Sarah Ludford (Liberal Democrats) and was then translated into 22 languages spoken across Europe.

“If it had not been for their support and help, this declaration would have not seen the light,” she said.

Pharaon said that Ludford will later on Monday table the final draft of the declaration in the European Parliament.

“Blanket national bans like the French one instituted in the name of secularism may be well-intentioned, but they fail to acknowledge individual identity and the diversity of Europe's population. It would be unhelpful if similar action spread across the EU,” Ludford said in a statement sent to IOL.

Pharaon recalled that the draft was put to discussion in a seminar held on September 22, 2004, in London, which brought together 160 members from Muslim and non-Muslim NGOs across Europe.

“We also sent copies of this draft to a host of MEPs and rights activists in Europe.”

Pharaon added that the entire declaration was co-reviewed by Protect Hijab and other MEPs including Claude Moraes (Labour), Phillip Bushill-Matthews (Conservative) and French Alian Liptiez until they reached the final text in December.

Pharaon stressed that they were not able to get support from Jewish groups.

“They are not really affected by laws banning hijab and religious symbols in public institutions, since such laws, as far as the Jews are concerned, ban big skullcaps,” she said.

“Even the Christians didn’t demonstrate great support or set up a lobby since they are not also affected by such laws. Sikh organizations, however, have joined our campaign.”

Asked whether there are hopes that the European Parliament would ratify this declaration, Pharaon said it is not a “mission impossible” but rather “a very difficult one”.

“In the past, 161 written declarations on different issues were presented to the parliament and only six had been adopted.

“If we mange to get 160 signatures, this will be a great achievement. But I can’t give any estimates about the expected number of signatures for the time being…Maybe one month from now,” she added.

Pharaon, nevertheless, firmly believes that where there is a will there is a way.

“Toward that end, Protect Hijab will launch letters campaign across Europe to get much-needed support from MEPs and lobby with other rights groups for the crucial coming three months,” she added.

“We met on Saturday representatives of the Federation of the Islamic Organizations in Europe, who voiced their support to our efforts to put pressure on MEPs.”

Lucas’s office will send Monday a torrent of support-emails to the entire MEPs.

“So, we put pressure on them from bottom to top,” Pharaon said.

She said that Protect Hijab will hold a press conference on March 15.

“This conference is aimed at supporting the written declaration, marking the French ban on hijab and announcing the Protect Hijab as an NGO.”

Pharaon said that the countries concerned, like France and Germany, must comply with the declaration, if adopted by the parliament.

“They have a duty to do it. The European Commission is obliged to discuss the declaration and provide means of implement it.”

Hijab has taken central stage in several European countries, especially after France banned it in state-run schools and public institutions.