Paris, 28 Aug, 2023 (GNP): France’s Education Minister, Gabriel Attal, has announced a ban on the wearing of the abaya – a full-length, loose-fitting robe often worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools. The decision comes ahead of the impending back-to-school season and is aimed at upholding the country’s secular principles within educational institutions.
Since the 19th century, France has upheld stringent regulations against religious symbols in state schools, with the intent of removing any religious influence, especially Catholic, from public education. The nation has faced the challenge of adapting its guidelines to accommodate its growing Muslim minority population.
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French public schools already enforce a ban on the display of conspicuous religious symbols, including large crosses, Jewish kippas, and Islamic headscarves. In 2004, the wearing of headscarves was prohibited in schools, followed by a ban on full-face veils in public places in 2010, sparking controversy within France’s five million-strong Muslim community.
Education Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized, “I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools. When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them.” The move follows extensive deliberation regarding the wearing of abayas in French schools, where the wearing of the hijab by women has long been prohibited.
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The decision to ban the abaya has been subject to debate, with the right and far-right advocating for the ban as the left raises concerns about potential encroachments on civil liberties. The abaya had previously existed in a grey area, not subject to an outright ban like the hijab.
The French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM), representing numerous Muslim associations, contended that clothing items alone should not be considered “religious signs.”
Preserving the principle of secularism is a unifying theme in French society, transcending political affiliations. It resonates with those on the left, who uphold Enlightenment values, as well as with far-right constituents seeking to counterbalance the increasing influence of Islam in French society.