The ban on wearing the abaya at school in France: a controversial decision in the name of secularism.
In an announcement that created controversy, the Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, decided to ban the wearing of the abaya at school in France. According to the Minister, this decision is motivated by the desire to preserve the secularism of the school and not to allow religious ostentation within schools.
The issue of wearing the abaya, a long traditional dress worn by some Muslim students, is sensitive. Some believe that this dress does not constitute a Muslim religious sign, while others see it as an ostensible manifestation of religious affiliation.
In France, the law of March 15, 2004 prohibits students from wearing conspicuous signs of religious affiliation in public schools. This prohibition concerns in particular the Islamic veil and the yarmulke. The abaya had already been mentioned in a circular from the National Education last November, which specified that this outfit could be prohibited if it was worn conspicuously.
Since the assassination of Professor Samuel Paty in 2020, attacks on secularism in schools have increased significantly. The wearing of religious symbols, which represents the majority of these attacks, has also seen a significant increase during the past school year.
The Minister assured that the heads of establishments would be accompanied in the application of this ban and that a meeting would be organized with them next week. Nevertheless, some National Education stakeholders have expressed concerns about the implementation of this ban and the additional burden it could represent for school heads.
This decision was welcomed on the right, where the ban on abayas had been called for on several occasions. On the other hand, on the left, some denounce an attack on the founding principles of secularism and a stigmatization of Muslims. This debate once again raises the question of the place of religion and secularism in French society.
In conclusion, the ban on the wearing of the abaya at school in France gives rise to debates and controversies. While some welcome this decision in the name of secularism, others criticize it as an attack on religious freedoms. It remains to be seen how this ban will be applied and what the consequences will be for the daily lives of students and schools