The Veil Controversy: International Perspectives on Religion in Public Life 4/14/2004
From: Heather Morton of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 202-955-5078 News Advisory: In March 2004, France passed into law a prohibition on wearing Muslim headscarves and other "overt" religious insignia in public schools. The law has caused a storm of controversy within France and beyond on the rule of religion in public life and on the ability of France, as well as the rest of Europe, to integrate its growing Muslim population. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Brookings Institution's Center on the United States and Europe invite you to a discussion of the veil controversy. This panel brings together French, American and Muslim experts to assess the effect of "banning the veil" on the relationship between Church and State, Islam and the West, and America and Europe. WHAT: Roundtable Discussion WHEN: Monday, April 19, 3:30-5:30 p.m. WHERE: The Brookings Institution, Stein Room, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. WHO: -- E.J. Dionne, Jr., co-chair, the Pew Forum, and senior fellow, the Brookings Institution -- Raja Elhabti, director of research, Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights -- Husain Haqqani, visiting scholar, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace -- Justin Vaisse, affiliated scholar, Brookings Center on the U.S. and Europe Register online at http://www.pewforum.org, or by calling Kirsten Hunter at 202-955-5075. |