There would be outrage in Ireland if priests wearing collars and nuns in habits were banned from schools, Ms Patricia McKenna MEP said at a rally at the French Embassy in Dublin today.
The rally at the French embassy in Dublin was part of an International day of protest against France's move to ban the Islamic Hijab, or headscarve along with other 'overt religious symbols' in schools and public workplaces. The law proposed by President Jacques Chirac would ban Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from state schools.
"It is clearly unfair. Unlike Christians, Muslims have a specific dress code. Many Muslim women feel the Hijab is part of their faith and they are obliged to wear it. Imagine if priests' collars and nuns' habits were banned in schools here. There would be outrage", she said.
On Friday, French government spokesman Mr Jean-Francois Cope defended the ban as an effort to uphold France's commitment to keep church and state separate, and hit out at what he said were attempts to stir up radical opposition to the measure.
Many French politicians and voters support the planned law as a bulwark against Islamist influence among Muslim immigrants. It has divided opinion among France's five million Muslims, and been criticised by Muslims abroad.
The law is expected before the French parliament next month.