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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tunisia moves against headscarves | Tunisia moves against headscarves |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Tunisian authorities have launched a campaign against the Islamic veil worn by some women to cover their hair. | The Tunisian authorities have launched a campaign against the Islamic veil worn by some women to cover their hair. |
| Police are applying with renewed vigour a decree dating back to 1981 which prohibits women from wearing Islamic headscarves in public places. | Police are applying with renewed vigour a decree dating back to 1981 which prohibits women from wearing Islamic headscarves in public places. |
| In recent days, senior officials have hit out at what they describe as sectarian dress worn by people who use religion to hide political aims. | In recent days, senior officials have hit out at what they describe as sectarian dress worn by people who use religion to hide political aims. |
| Human rights groups say the move is unconstitutional. | Human rights groups say the move is unconstitutional. |
| Police in Tunisia have been stopping women on the streets and asking them to remove their headscarves and sign pledges that they will not go back to wearing them. | Police in Tunisia have been stopping women on the streets and asking them to remove their headscarves and sign pledges that they will not go back to wearing them. |
| Under a ban introduced in 1981, women in Tunisia are not allowed to wear Islamic dress in schools or government offices. Those who insist on it face losing their jobs. | Under a ban introduced in 1981, women in Tunisia are not allowed to wear Islamic dress in schools or government offices. Those who insist on it face losing their jobs. |
| One woman said she was barred from entering her son's school wearing a headscarf. | One woman said she was barred from entering her son's school wearing a headscarf. |
| 'Unconstitutional' | 'Unconstitutional' |
| The interior minister said last week that those who wore the headscarf exploited religion to achieve political aims. | The interior minister said last week that those who wore the headscarf exploited religion to achieve political aims. |
| Other senior officials described it as a sectarian form of dress and suggested that it was associated with violence and extremism. | Other senior officials described it as a sectarian form of dress and suggested that it was associated with violence and extremism. |
| But Tunisian human rights activists accused the authorities of depriving women of the basic freedom guaranteed by the constitution. | But Tunisian human rights activists accused the authorities of depriving women of the basic freedom guaranteed by the constitution. |
| They say many people are upset by the ban, but that in a country where dissent is not tolerated they dare not show their anger. | They say many people are upset by the ban, but that in a country where dissent is not tolerated they dare not show their anger. |
| President Zine El Abidine Ali has been keen to restrict the spread of ideas or signs and religious symbols that could strengthen the country's outlawed Islamic opposition. | |
| In the 1990s he moved to crush Tunisia's main moderate Islamic movement when fighting erupted in neighbouring Algeria between Islamists and the state. | In the 1990s he moved to crush Tunisia's main moderate Islamic movement when fighting erupted in neighbouring Algeria between Islamists and the state. |