[Greens-Media] PM fails to support freedom of religious expression

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

29.08.05

PM fails to support 
freedom of religious expression


Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today accused the Prime Minister of failing
to support freedom of religious expression in his half-hearteded
rejection of a proposal to ban the wearing of headscarves by Muslim
schoolgirls as 'impractical'.

"The right to wear a headscarf if you are a Muslim schoolgirl is surely
a matter of cultural and religious freedom which the Prime Minister
appears not to understand," Senator Nettle said.

"Freedom of religion is an Australian value - that is the message John
Howard should be sending - not that banning headscarves is simply
impractical.

"The Prime Minister cannot on the one hand claim to support a better
relationship with Muslim Australians whilst at the same time allowing
ministers and backbenchers to make veiled attacks on Muslims which
pander to racist views.

"Last week both Peter Costello and Brendan Nelson suggested that some
Muslim Australian's should be deported or 'clear off' if they did not
support government ministers' concepts of Australian values.

"The Greens welcome the diversity of cultural, religious and linguistic
communities in Australia and support policies that encourage and
celebrate this diversity.

"The Muslim community is already under pressure from negative press
coverage the role of Ministers and back benchers should be to support
multiculturalism not imply that a community might be anti-Australian.

"State schools have been celebrating diversity for decades and should be
supported for the community building efforts they make."


Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146