Aug. 28 (UPI) — As France grapples with accusations of Islamophobia from its Muslim minority, the country has announced a ban on the wearing of abayas, the robe-like garments worn by Muslim women, in state schools.
The decision comes after months of debate in France, where the wearing of large crosses, Jewish kippas, and Islamic headscarves or hijabs is already prohibited.
“Schools in France are firmly rooted in values and principles, particularly laïcité, which emphasizes the separation of state and religion,” stated French Education Minister Gabriel Attal.
“From my perspective, when laïcité is applied to schools, it is quite clear: upon entering a classroom, one should not be able to discern a student’s religious identity solely based on their appearance,” Attal told French TV network TF-1 on Sunday.
“During my discussions with school administrators this summer, I sensed a need for a clear national rule regarding the issue of abayas, and now we have established that rule,” Attal added.
The ban has been criticized by several French lawmakers as a “new Islamophobic campaign.”
“It is disheartening to see the start of the school year being politically polarized by a completely fabricated religious war revolving around a woman’s attire. When will we achieve civil harmony and true secularism, which should unite rather than exacerbate?” questioned Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a liberal activist, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
France previously banned headscarves in schools in 2004, and full-face veils were prohibited in public in 2010.
“This kind of policy goes against the liberal principles of the 1905 Law on Separation of Church and State, a law that we have been distorting and weaponizing since the 90s,” wrote Rim-Sarah Alouane, a French legal scholar, in a post on X.
“Such policies only serve to deepen the nation’s divisions,” Alouane added.
Since the 19th century, France has implemented rules prohibiting religious signs and attire in schools, initially to prevent the Catholic Church from exerting influence over public education. The country has continuously updated these laws to reflect its evolving population.
Attal assured that he will provide clear national guidelines before schools reopen on September 4.
