[Barry the Sprout]

By my knowledge its the Muslim hajib, Jewish hats (forget the proper name...), and particularly ostentatious crosses. It comes from the French secular tradition and is in fact only one of several recommendations by a recent report on repression of youngsters in various faiths. I'm told by more knowledgeable friends its one of the worst points in the report and the rest of it, which isn't to be acted on, is actually quite good.

Personally I'm not in favour of banning the hajib but I certainly feel something should be done about kids being made to wear it. I know that thats not happening in every case but it does happen. I think that quite a lot of the opposition to the ban, over here at least, has got caught up defending the hajib when it should instead be sticking up the people who have to wear it and their right to choose either way. But thats just my opinion.