PAS today called on the government and civil societies to declare their opposition to the recent moves by the French government to ban all 'religious symbols' from public schools.

Registering its protest with the French Embassy in Kuala Lumpur today, the party's Youth wing also said it would organise larger demonstrations against the French government if the proposed bill, which would affect Muslim girls (who would not be allowed to wear headscarves) in particular, were to be implemented.

Its chief Salahuddin Ayub met with the embassy's First Counsellor Emmanuel Bel to submit the protest letter. He was later joined by Keadilan youth leader Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor.

Calling on the Malaysian government to join the worldwide outrage, Salahuddin also urged

non-Muslim organisations to protest against the proposed law as it would adversely affect the freedom to practise other religions as well.

In his letter to French ambassador Jacques Lapouge, the Youth leader said the action to ban the wearing of symbols conspicuously showing religious affiliation was an affront on all faiths practised in France, not just Muslims.

"Any such action on the part of your government will not simply alienate Muslims but all those who believe in equal and full rights for women and minorities worldwide," Salahuddin said in his letter.

Violate principles

While Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses have also been targeted as banned religious symbols, Muslim girls studying in state schools, will be particularly affected, according to Salahuddin.

This was because the ruling would force those donning the religiously sanctioned hijab (veil) "to either violate their principles or quite simply stay at home," he said.

"The proposed requirement for women to remove clothing is a violent abuse of their sacred rights and cannot be sanctioned by any government respecting human rights," Saluhuddin stressed.

International outrage has been mounting ever since French President Jacques Chirac set up a commission last June to study the proposed ban on all symbols 'conspicuously showing religious affiliation.'

The French Muslim Council in its open letter to Chirac on Tuesday lambasted the proposal as a "step backward" in efforts to integrate the country's 5-million strong Muslim minority.

Emmanuel in his response after receiving the letter from PAS said he would relay the protest to the ambassador.

He also said that the French president had in a speech on Wednesday said some "very important things" on the issue, and added that he would fax the speech to PAS headquarters as soon as possible.