TEHRAN (IRNA) – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday welcomed the recent remarks made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Muslim women’s veil (hijab), saying his remarks had positive impacts on the public opinion including those of the Muslim World.

Talking to IRNA, he added that the practice of discriminatory laws against Muslims in public places in several European countries including France has always been one of the issues of concern among world Muslims, particularly those living in Europe.
Mottaki welcomed President Sarkozy’s remarks saying, “a young woman can wear a headscarf provided that’s a decision they took freely and not been forced on them by their family or their entourage”.
Sarkozy made the remarks following his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and several meetings with senior French officials in Paris last week.
Mottaki expressed hope that the French educational centers would materialize the veil law for the Muslim women.
The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that continuation of such a process based on mutual understanding would pave the way for the constructive dialogue.