Egypt: Tantawi remarks on scarf ban condemned

By: Sultan Ahmed

CAIRO, Egypt: Sheyookh of Egypt’s Al-Azhar university and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs denounced the stance of Sheikh of Al-Azhar Muhammed Sayed Tantawi concerning French ban on Islamic headscarves in state schools.

The Sheyookh said Tantawi had expressed his personal opinion approving French ban.

Tantawi on Tuesday said ahead of his meeting with French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy that France has the right to ban Islamic headscarves in state schools, as it is non-Muslim country.

“The veil is a divine obligation for a Muslim woman,” but the obligation applied “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 the veil, it is their right,” Tantawi said.

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France has right to ban headscarf, insists Tantawi

CAIRO, Egypt: Muhammed Sayed Tantawi, the sheikh of Al-Azhar, said Tuesday France had the right to ban Islamic headscarves in state schools, as it is non-Muslim country.

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