Letter: Headscarves worn in secular schools
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The analogy of Jewish people forced to wear the Star of David, used by Conor Cruise O'Brien in his article on Muslim girls wanting to wear headscarves in France ('A French lesson for Muslims,' 10 December), is inappropriate. It would have been more honest for him to have compared the refusal of the French government to allow Muslims to wear distinctive clothing with the Nazis forcing Hassidic Jews to cut their ringlets; both the Islamic headscarf and the Judaic ringlets are considered to be essential parts of the faith, worn by devout believers by choice.
However, whether it is a German Nazi or a French secularist forcing secular values, beliefs and practices on religious people, the result is the same - a denial of the basic human right to practise one's religion unhindered. Contrary to what Mr O'Brien and others would have us believe, secularism is not a neutral stance; it is as much a statement of belief as any religion. Indeed, it is the religion of many people in the world today.
Wearing religious clothes or symbols is not a 'rejection of the secular state'; sincere belief in God alone does that.
Yours faithfully,
IBRAHIM HEWITT
London, N13
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments