- Around 300 Muslim students in France are defying the ban on the abaya, with 67 of them refusing to comply. This has prompted dialogue on the need for a standardized dress code in schools, as advocated by President Macron.
- The ban on overgarments within schools is seen by some as upholding the French principle of laïcité, while others view it as discriminatory and an infringement on religious freedom for Muslim girls and women. Many perceive this issue as underscoring the broader tensions in France surrounding the escalating wave of Islamophobia.
In an exhibition of resolute defiance, approximately 300 Muslim students in France have chosen to challenge the prohibition on the abaya. The French Education Minister, Gabriel Attal, conveyed during an interview with RMC that a total of 298 students, scattered across various regions within the nation, arrived at their educational institutions garbed in the traditional abaya attire.
“Sixty-seven of them refused to give up on their abaya,” Attal said, adding: “I do not want to be able to identify students’ religion in schools by looking at their outfit.” Furthermore, Minister Attal emphasised that initiating dialogues and elucidating the rationale behind the newly implemented regulation was very necessary. It is incumbent upon French educators to undertake this task while concurrently prohibiting the entry of Muslim girls adorned in abayas into educational establishments
President Emmanuel Macron, during an interview conducted the previous day, articulated a proposition that posited the adoption of a standardized dress code within schools, encompassing elements such as jeans, t-shirts, and jackets.
Pictured: President Emmanuel Macron
On Friday President Macron reaffirmed his stance on the Islamic dress code:
“We will be uncompromising on this topic. ……………We will take actions beyond words.”
“Schools in our country are secular, free and compulsory, but foremost, secular … and religious signs, whatever they are, do not have a place (there),” Macron said.
The French Minister of Education, Gabriel Attal, shared in an interview with RMC the revelation that a contingent of 298 students, hailing from diverse regions of the nation, made their way to educational institutions attired in the abaya.
Of this assembly, Attal disclosed, “Sixty-seven of them remained unwavering in their resolve to retain their abayas,” supplementing this statement with a poignant remark: “I am steadfast in my resolve not to allow the identification of students’ religious affiliations within the scholastic milieu to hinge upon their attire.”
In consonance with this sentiment, the minister underscored the pivotal significance of engaging in dialogue, elucidating the rationale underpinning the recently promulgated regulation—a responsibility that has been delegated to French educators, who must concurrently forestall the entry of Muslim girls attired in abayas into educational precincts.
President Emmanuel Macron, in a recent interview, espoused the notion that educational institutions could adopt a distinctive dress code, one characterized by elements such as jeans, T-shirts, and jackets.
Furthermore, Macron, on the cusp of the weekend, made a solemn pledge that the government would demonstrate unwavering commitment to enforcing the prohibition on overgarments within schools. He expressed unequivocal support for Minister Attal’s stance, pronouncing, “We shall be resolute in our approach to this matter… Our commitment transcends mere rhetoric.”
According to the reportage by broadcaster BFMTV, Macron reiterated the bedrock principles underpinning educational establishments in France—secularism, liberty, and compulsory attendance. Foremost among these principles stands secularism, where religious markers, regardless of their manifestation, are unwelcome.
In contradistinction, Vincent Brengarth, the legal counsel for the Muslim Rights Action (ADM), made an announcement on Friday, conveyed through the medium formerly known as Twitter, that they had formally initiated an appeal with the Council of State. Their objective: securing the suspension of the prohibition on abayas within the educational realm, an injunction they contended contravenes “several fundamental freedoms.”
This judicial matter has now ascended to the august chambers of France’s supreme judiciary and awaits meticulous scrutiny.
Proponents of regulations curtailing Islamic attire within educational institutions espouse the notion that such measures uphold France’s foundational principle of laïcité, a doctrine wherein parity and impartiality reign supreme within the sphere of education. They postulate that the exhibition of religious symbols within educational precincts has the potential to foment discord and transgress the hallowed demarcation between religion and state.
Conversely, those who oppose the ban regard it as discriminatory and as an infringement upon the sacrosanct right to religious freedom. They posit that the prohibition disproportionately targets Muslim girls and women, constricting their capacity to manifest their faith while concurrently availing themselves of educational opportunities.
An assortment of detractors also posits that this legislation disproportionately impacts Muslim students and perpetuates noxious cultural stereotypes.
In recent annals, the French government has found itself besieged by mounting criticism for a spate of statements and policies ostensibly directed at the Muslim community. These encompass high-profile raids on mosques and charitable foundations, as well as the contentious “anti-separatism” legislation, which imposes far-reaching restrictions upon this demographic.
Muslim Converts in France
Many eminent French Muslim scholars and activists have attributed the actions of the French government to an alleged effort to suppress Muslims, which they believe stems from the rising numbers of Muslim converts. Moreover, Muslims who are taking their faith more seriously. Harvard University, in its report, highlights this trend by noting, ‘There is also a growing convert population of about 100,000 people, predominantly young women, and which includes several French athletes and musicians who have drawn attention to the phenomenon.’ Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that this is far from a novel occurrence. The esteemed publication La Croix, in a survey conducted by Pierre Schmidt on conversions to Islam in France, elucidates that this is a historical continuum. It was reported that as early as 1970, there were approximately 3,600 annual conversions.
Meanwhile in the UK
The UK contends with school closures caused by crumbling concrete, while France’s decision to bar students over the length and fit of girls’ clothing underscores the unfortunate absurdity of denying girls’ education based on modest attire.
The West caring about Girls’ Education
Interestingly, conversations about the Taliban were driven by the perception that the West truly prioritised girls’ education.
What has become of the concern for girls’ education? Isn’t this the refrain we’ve heard repeatedly in the Western response to the Taliban over the years? It appears that in France, girls are only granted the privilege of education if they are willing to compromise their principles, their very essence, their individuality, and their faith.
Pin drop silence prevails among feminist voices regarding this matter
We have observed a distinct absence of advocacy from prominent feminist organisations on this issue. However, shouldn’t a woman’s right to choose her attire be upheld in every context according to the Feminist paradigm. This exemplifies the paradoxes within these organizations, highlighting that their professed principles are not upheld consistently.
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To our Muslim sisters in France, we take pride in your resilience and stand firmly beside you.
