recognize the human race as one
Press Release
Lobby your MEPs in Strasbourg on 11th May
Issued: Sunday, 1st May, 2005
Sikh at RTT Rally.
Sikhs—children, men and women, are requested to gather on the steps of the European parliament in Strasbourg at 8am on 11th May to remind their Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to sign the 'Written Declaration on Religious Rights and Freedoms in France and throughout the European Union'.
Sikhs wearing saffron-coloured turbans and scarves will join young men and women from various organisations that are supporting the campaign for diversity and difference to greet their MEPs and hand them fliers as they stream in for the plenary session inside Parliament.
On Feb 21st, five cross-party Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) tabled a "Written Declaration on Religious Rights and Freedoms in France and throughout the European Union." If 367 MEPs sign this declaration by May 20th, it will enable the European Parliament to have a debate and pass a resolution on this issue. The declaration may be viewed by clicking the links below.
P6_DCL(2005)0005_EN (doc: 31 KB)
UNITED SIKHS' partners who are supporting the Written Declaration through a euro-campaign for difference and diversity are: the Mayor of London, Liberty - a UK-based human rights organisation, Assembly for the Protection of the Hijab, RAAD- a Dutch inter-faith NGO, UNITED- a Dutch NGO affiliated to 2,500 European NGOs, National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR). The campaign flyer may be viewed by clicking the links below.
Campaign Flyer (jpg: 270 KB)
In March 2004, a law was passed in France that bans conspicuous religious symbols and attire in the classroom. Under this law, schoolchildren are banned from wearing the Christian cross, Jewish skull-cap, Islamic head scarf and the Sikh turban. Several German States have passed similar legislation that bans the wearing of religious signs and clothing by public servants. These laws show a clear disregard for the right to difference, diversity and freedoms under Article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to manifest ones religion.
This law also affects schoolchildren from across Europe as it prevents their free movement under school exchange programmes. With one fell swoop, this law has undermined the rights of children and the freedom of movement in Europe. Love for diversity will make way for fear of difference.
If you cannot be in Strasbourg, write to your MEP. You do not have to be a constituent to write to an MEP.
For a sample letter to send to your MEP see step 2 of our Step-by-Step Guide for writting to MEPs.
You can obtain details of your local MEP by following the link through your capital city at: www.europarl.eu.int/addresses/offices/default.htm.
For an update on the MEPs who have signed the Written Declaration and other campaign literature visit www.unitedsikhs.org/euro_campaign/.
As you are aware, the UNITED SIKHS' legal team is assisting French lawyers in two cases in the French courts. The first is a case brought by 3 Sikh schoolboys, Jasvir Singh, Bikramjit Singh and Ranjit Singh, who were expelled for wearing their turban. Shingara Singh, who has been prevented from wearing his turban for his driver's licence photo, has brought the second case. The schoolboys have lost their case in the lower court and are appealing. Shingara Singh is awaiting judgment from the High Court, which is due any day now.
UNITED SIKHS has run the Right To Turban campaign and now the Euro-campaign for Difference and Diversity with your help. UNITED SIKHS' is expanding its specialist teams to meet the challenge of taking these cases through the higher courts and to deal with other advocacy campaigns. Seva is about being a Sikh. Be a part of our professional teams.
How you can help
- Join the MEP/MP Lobby team, email eurocampaign@unitedsikhs.org with the title 'MEP/MP lobbying Seva'
- Join the Right To Turban (RTT) PR/media team to expand the awareness campaigns through the website, public relations and media relations, email mediateam@unitedsikhs.org with the title 'Media Seva'
- Join the Fundraising team for fundraising within the Gurdwara circuit and Sikh businesses, email fundraising@unitedsikhs.org with the title 'Fundraising Seva'.
- Join the legal team (experience required here), email law@unitedsikhs.org with the title 'Law Seva'.
For more details on the Right To Turban campaign go to www.unitedsikhs.org/rtt/.