Tehran, Dec 28, IRNA -- The Union of Islamic Student Associations issued a statement in Tehran on Tuesday condemning the expulsion by a French school of an Iranian student 'mojahebeh' (Islamic scarf user).

Denouncing the expulsion recently of Zeinab Imani from a Paris school as an "unjustified act," the union said that it was making Zeinab an honorary member of the association.

Officials of the school, which was not named, said that Zeinab's expulsion was based on France's secular law approved earlier this year which bars Muslim girls from using religious symbols, in this case the headscarf, in public places.

The law was said to have been enacted to counter "Islamic radicalism."

France has so far expelled 43 Muslim girls from varioius French schools this year due to their refusal to give up their scarves.

The association, in its statement, asked French officials to "respect human rights and let Zeinab go back to the school where she has been studying over the past two years."

It also asked pertinent officials in Tehran to pave the way for Zeinab to study in Iran in case the French officials refuse to allow her to return to her Paris school.

... Payvand News - 12/28/04 ... --