Ayat Al-Hakim in letter to Chirac slams scarf ban

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Saeed Al-Hakim, currently living in the holy city of Najaf which houses the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib (as), has criticized French move to ban Islamic headscarves in state schools.

In a letter addressed to French President Chirac, Ayatullah Al-Hakim wrote that such a move could be expected from a dictatorship but not from a State like France which bases on democracy and insists on respect of freedom of individuals’ rights.

He further said that “Hijab” (veil) is a sign of the religion of Islam and banning it is against fundamental and religious rights.

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