Hostage urges France to end headscarf ban

A French journalist being held hostage along with a colleague in Iraq called on French President Jacques Chirac to give in to militants’ demand to rescind a headscarf ban to save their lives, according to a video shown on the Al-Jazeera television station.

Journalist Christian Chesnot called on Chirac and his government to rescind its plan to ban Islamic headscarves, according to the newsreader, who was interpreting his remarks into Arabic.

“I appeal to the French people to go to the streets ... because our lives are threatened,” fellow hostage Georges Malbrunot said in English.