INDONESIAN MUSLIMS ASSOCIATION DEMANDS FREEDOM TO WEAR JILBAB

Semarang, Mar 10 (ANTARA) - Dozens of women members of the Indonesian Association of Muslims, Semarang chapter, staged an action rally demanding the government and the United Nations to guarantee freedom of wearing jilbab (headcover exposing only the face) for Muslim women.

"The government has yet to fully guarantee muslim women to wear such head cover wherever they are," action coordinator Eka Nur said when giving an oration in Semarang Tuesday.

She pointed out that the use of such head cover by muslim women throughout the world is their human rights which need to be protected by every country.

For this, she said, the United Nations needs to issue on a ruling on the rights and freedom of every muslim woman to wear jilbab, and that the government needs to be responsible for and guarantee the right.

"In addition the government also needs to immediately issue rulings at central government and regional levels to facilitate muslim women to wear jilbab at work, when teaching and at such official occasions and during any other occasions and opportunities," she said.

She hoped the government would firmly deal with institutions and agencies forbidding the use of jilbab in any form by moslim women.

"We also hope all members of the society support the right and freedom of all muslim women in Indonesia to wear jilbab in Indonesia," Eka said.

In the action rally observing World Women's day which fell on Monday, the demonstrators not only carried posters inscribed with "Wearing Jilbab is Our Right", "Respect the Rights of Women", "Donn't Forbid Us to Wear Jilbab at Work,", and "With Jilbab We can also Produce Great Work".