New Delhi: Around 25 million Sikhs worldwide are slamming a French plan to ban headscarf in schools and Government offices which they say "violates" their religious rights and have launched online signature campaigns which would be submitted to the French President soon.

The proposed law will ban Sikhs from wearing their distinctive turbans in addition to banning Islamic head coverings, Jewish skullcaps and oversized Christian crosses in public schools and workplaces.

Around 7,000 Sikhs living in France have also appealed to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to intercede with the French Government, as community leaders feel schools may force their children to cut their hair or shave their beard.

International Human Rights Organisation has also written to President A P J Abdul Kalam drawing his attention to the issue, while requesting for his intervention.

"We have taken up the issue of the proposed ban on headscarf with the French Ambassador here and told him about the religious sentiments of the Sikhs. He was very appreciative of the religious necessity to wear turban and will inform the French Government about it," says Tarlochan Singh, chairman, National Commission for Minorities.