As the new school year approaches, Frances Education and Youth Minister Gabriel Attal announced a ban on wearing the abaya, a loose-fitting, full-length robe worn by certain Muslim women, in state-run schools.This decision comes as part of efforts by the French government to uphold secularism and prevent visible religious symbols in educational institutions. “I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools,” Education Minister Attal said in an interview with TV channel TF1 as per a report by the news agency Al Jazeera.🔴 Labaya ne pourra plus être portée à lécole, annonce @GabrielAttal, ministre de lÉducation nationale et de la Jeunesse▶ #LE20H d@ACCoudray pic.twitter.com/93bIbkSd02— TF1Info (@TF1Info) August 27, 2023“When you walk into a classroom, you shouldnt be able to identify the pupils religion just by looking at them,” Attal added, expressing the intention to provide clear rules at the national level to school heads to ensure uniformity in the enforcement of the ban.“Secularism means the freedom to emancipate oneself through school,” the Minister added.Attal characterised the abaya as “a religious gesture, aimed at testing the resistance of the republic toward the secular sanctuary that school must constitute.”Frances ban on abayas in school part of secularism battleThis decision to ban the Islamic dress follows extensive discussions surrounding the wearing of abayas in French schools. Notably, the ban on abayas is distinct from the pre-existing prohibition on the hijab, which has historically been restricted in educational settings.France, known for its separation of religion and public institutions, prohibits the display of religious symbols in state-run schools. This includes the wearing of large crosses, Jewish kippas, and Islamic headscarves. The ban on full-face veils in public spaces, implemented in 2004 and 2010, also stirred controversy and tensions within the countrys 5 million-strong Muslim population.The 2004 legislation banned the the wearing of signs or outfits by which students ostensibly show a religious affiliation in state-run schools.From the liberals upholding Enlightenment ideals to conservatives concerned about the influence of Islam, defending secular values has become a focal point for both sides of the political spectrum.Abaya not religious sign: Muslim organisation after Frances dress banThe debate surrounding the abaya ban arises from the distinction between clothing as a religious sign. The French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) views abayas differently from headscarves, asserting that they are not inherently religious symbols. This nuance complicates the interpretation and enforcement of the ban.Pap Ndiaye, who preceded Attal as the education minister, said that he did not want to to publish endless catalogues to specify the lengths of dresses when approached by the head teachers unions about the ban.
