EAST Lancashire pupils wishing to wear a hijab are under no threat, despite moves by the French Government to ban the headscarves in schools, claims a prospective Euro-MP.

Hijabs are headscarves worn by some Muslim women as a sign of their faith.

The traditional hijab headscarf is a long, wide scarf which is wrapped around the head and throat, and can be used to cover the face when necessary for modesty.

Earlier this month, the French Parliament voted to ban the hijab along with other religious symbols, such as skullcaps and crosses, from pupils in French state schools.

The French proposals are likely to apply to pupils when schools resume in September. This decision has caused concern for Muslim and other religious groups in Britain.

They are fearful that a similar ban could be imposed in this country.

Liberal Democrat Sajjad Karim says that local Muslims should not be fearful of a British ban.

Mr Karim, who is aiming to become the Party's first non-white parliamentarian at the European Parliament elections this June, says strict British laws would prevent any ban.

He said: "Muslims should not be fearful that a similar ban could be brought forward in the UK.

"British racial discrimination legislation prohibits any ban on religious clothing of a racial group, such as Sikhs and Muslims."

East Lancashire Euro-MP Chris Davies agreed with Mr Karim, and pointed out that the French education system is much different to the British.

He said: "France is a secular state, meaning that religion and education are entirely separate and this is the reasoning behind the ban.

"The same cannot be said for Britain with a state church and religious schools.

"Muslims and other religions in Britain can continue to practice their beliefs without fear of a similar ban."

New EU anti-discrimination laws that prohibit both racial and religious discrimination come into force in 2007, and could be used to challenge the French ban.