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Bosnia Bans Hijabs, All Religious Symbols as Muslims Protest

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Thousands of Muslims rallied in protest of a new law in Bosnia that forbids Muslim women from wearing the headscarf known as a hijab.

A Bosnian high judicial council recently decided to ban all "religious signs" in the country's courts and legal institutions.

Although the policy prohibits all religious symbols, including Christian symbols from being worn, it specifically mentions the hijab.

About 2,000 hijab wearing Muslim women and others flooded the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on Sunday to march in protest of the decision.

Protest organizer Samira Zunic Velagic told the BBC it is a "serious attack against Muslim honor, personality, and identity."

One of the largest concerns from the protestors was that Bosnian Muslim women who wear the hijab would be prohibited from attaining jobs in Bosnia's legal institutions.

Many protestors saw the measure as an attempt to deprive Muslim women of their right to work.

The protestors voiced their objection to the policy by marching through Sarajevo for an hour. Many wore the traditional headscarf while carrying signs saying "Hijab is my right," "Hijab is my Daily Choice," or "Hijab is my everyday reminder to be objective."

Muslims represent about 40 percent of Bosnia's 3.8 million population. The rest of the country is made up mostly of Orthodox or Catholic Christians.

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