Tunisia organization accuses government of campaign against women's veil

The "women against torture" society in Tunisia denounced what it described as a large scale campaign carried out currently by the Tunisian authorities against veiled women. This is on the occasion of start of the new school year.

The organization which takes London as a headquarters called on all veiled women in Tunisia to cling to their right to choose what they wear and to sue anyone violating this right in the Tunisian courts and the European Human rights court and the UN.

The chairperson of the organization Manjeya al- Obeidi said in a statement issued by the ministries of education and higher education that banning veiled women from registration for the current school year, noting that physical and verbal harassment might be inflicted on those who violate the decision.

She explained that the Tunisian authorities have for years fought a campaign against veiled women, noting that a veiled woman is prevented from delivering her baby in hospitals.

The Tunisian activists stressed that her organization talked much at forums about this matter and recently submitted a patition to this effect to Sheikhs and sides concerned with human rights "so as all express their views in these practices which are not accepted and a violation to all international norms."