France has extended its ban on religious attire in public schools to include the abaya, a long robe worn by Muslim girls and women. This announcement, made by Education Minister Gabriel Attal, aims to ensure that students’ religious beliefs are not easily identifiable when they enter the classroom. The bans on headscarves and face veils, which were implemented in 2004 and 2010 respectively, were met with anger from the country’s 5 million Muslims. The ban on religious attire is part of France’s longstanding effort to maintain secularism in public schools, dating back to the 19th century. It is worth noting that Christian crosses and Jewish yarmulkes are also prohibited in French schools. While supporters of the ban argue that it promotes secularism and limits the influence of Islam, critics, including the French Council of the Muslim Faith, argue that clothing items alone should not be seen as religious signs. The leftist opposition party, “Unbowed,” calls the ban unconstitutional and accuses Attal of excessively targeting Muslims. Attal plans to provide clear guidelines to schools nationwide before the start of the school year.
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