Argentina Passes Law Ensuring Women's Right to Wear Religious Headscarves

26 January 2011

Argentina has introduced new legislation to help integrate its Muslim population by allowing Muslim women to wear headscarves in public at all times and in all identity photographs.

The administration of Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez pushed for the legislation, which allows Muslim women to wear hijab in public places.

According to the new law, Argentinean Muslim women can now use photographs of themselves wearing headscarves for their national ID cards.

It is said that the law can help promote freedom of religion and expression in the Latin American country and will help the Muslim community to better integrate into the Argentinean society.

Fernandez said, "Our message to everybody, and all the countries of the world, is that we can resolve our differences for better causes."

She added, "Different views — particularly about religion — should never be forced onto others."

The director of the Islamic Center of Argentina, Samir Salech, has welcomed the news.

The government says it will enforce the law to the best of its ability and in collaboration with police forces, the judiciary, and the business community.

According to a 2009 Pew Research Center report, the Muslim community makes up about two percent of the Argentinean population.

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