The French cabinet approved ban on Muslim headscarves,
Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from school premises.

PARIS, Jan 28, 2004

• The French Govt. approved a draft law banning most religious symbols in state schools, launching the legislative process Paris says it needs to stem a rise in militant Islam among its Muslim minority.
  
  
• It was not clear how the measure might affect France's 5,000 Sikhs, who say their turbans should not be covered by the ban.
  
  
• This new draft reads: "In primary and secondary state schools, wearing signs and clothes that conspicuously display the pupil's religious affiliation is forbidden."
  
  
• The government will submit to the National Assembly next Tuesday the draft law barring Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from school premises. "The bill clearly reaffirms the neutrality of public schools.
  
  
• Five-million strong Muslim community in France complains the draft law is aimed against it and the leaders of all faiths in France have criticised it.
  
  
• French Govt. arguing that religious symbols can be tools to convert pupils and could provoke reactions from youths of other religions. It will apply from the start of the new school year in September.
  
  
• Govt has made clear the law will not apply to beards and bandannas no longer taboo
  
  
• 69 percent of all French surveyed backed the ban, opinion polls this week showed
  
  
• Muslims opposed it by 53 percent. France's five-million strong Muslim community complains the draft law is aimed against it